The World Cheese Awards (WCA) is the largest global cheese competition, founded in the United Kingdom 36 years ago, and for the third consecutive year, it is eagerly anticipating entries from Ukrainian cheeses. This year, the event will take place on November 15-16 in Viseu, Portugal.
Both large cheese enterprises and artisanal producers are traditionally eligible to participate. The main requirement is documented proof of the product’s quality and safety. The event’s partners and official representatives in Ukraine are Ardis Group.
With the support of Switzerland as part of the Swiss-Ukrainian Program “Higher Value Added Trade from the Organic and Dairy Sector in Ukraine” (QFTP) and in cooperation with the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, the cheese community ProCheese by Ardis Group will provide Ukrainian cheese producers with assistance in:
- Selecting cheeses that have a competitive advantage in the contest.
- Registering cheeses on the official WCA platform.
- Describing, packaging, and labeling cheeses according to contest rules.
- Organizing the transportation of cheeses from Ukraine to Portugal.
For producers, participation in an international competition offers several advantages:
- Promotion of their brand abroad;
- Opportunity to introduce their product to foreign buyers with the potential for establishing export channels;
- A chance to earn a globally recognized award from a professional jury and use it to promote their cheese in the domestic market.
“In just two years of Ukrainian cheeses participating in the World Cheese Awards, we have brought back 26 awards for Ukrainian producers, and this motivates us to keep pushing forward. The authenticity of the cheese, its unique flavor and recipe, and its unusual shape are exactly what will help you stand out among thousands of participants and win the hearts of cheese professionals from around the world,” says Oksana Chernova, cheese expert, founder of the ProCheese Academy, and World Cheese Awards judge from Ukraine.
The preliminary registration form for participants and more information about participation can be found at: https://procheese.ua/events/world-cheese-awards-2024/
Registration is open until August 26th, inclusive.
