World Steak Challenge winner unveiled

By Aidan Fortune

- Last updated on GMT

Frank Albers of Albers GMBH and Jack's Creek managing director Patrick Warmoll with the award-winning steak
Frank Albers of Albers GMBH and Jack's Creek managing director Patrick Warmoll with the award-winning steak
The winner of the inaugural World Steak Challenge has been unveiled, with the World's Best Steak Producer crowned. 

The winning steak was a Wagyu cross reared in Australia on Willow Tree Farm by Jack’s Creek in Australia and was entered into the competition by Albers GMBH from Dusseldorf, Germany. It was 30 months old and 450 days grain fed.

Frank Albers, owner of Albers GMBH, said: “It has been quite a journey and is the culmination of 15 years seeking steak perfection.

“The steak we entered was quite unique. Our Wagyu contains just the right amount of marbling and is very heat resistant which helps when cooking.”

Seventy steaks from 10 different countries were entered into the World Steak Challenge, with 11 going on to win Gold Medals. Seventeen Silver Medals were also awarded.

GlobalMeatNews​ editor Rod Addy praised the high quality of entries. “Whilst the standard of steak was by no means tough, the judging process definitely was. It was a very difficult decision, but our congratulations go to Albers for the Wagyu cross.”

Chair of the judges, award-winning Northern Ireland butcher George McCartney added: “It was a very difficult decision, but this competition is very good for the steak industry and the beef industry in general. We saw quite a lot of Angus amongst the Gold winners.”

Each steak was judged on its own merits against internationally agreed criteria. Technical testing covered two areas: raw and cooked. Judges for the technical round included master griller Fernando Larroude of the Gaucho Group;  meat scientist Dr Phil Hadley; celebrated Parisian butcher Yves-Marie Le Bourdonnec; South African master butcher Alan Franck; Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) business development executive Josh Anderson; chef and food writer Kevin Ashton; and the executive chef of the renowned M restaurant Mike Reid.

All steaks that achieved the highest Gold medal scores in the technical judging progressed to the second stage of judging.

Gold medal steaks were cooked on by Steak Stones chefs for an agreed time and specification based on a home cooking environment and scored by a new panel of judges drawn from a wide range of nationalities and expertise to ensure diverse international tastes are accounted for, with the scores awarded at this stage for each steak added to the total from stage one to reach an overall score.   

Worlds-Best-Steak-Producer-Logo

World's Best Steak Producer

Entered By

Country of origin

Breed of animal

Albers GMBH

Australia

Wagyu F2+ 75%

Gold Winners

Gold Winners

Entered By

Country of origin

Breed of animal

Australian Agricultural Company

Australia

Wagyu Cross

Eleven Mill Iron Ranch

United States

Black Angus

Jan Zandbergen

Australia

Black Angus

Nice to Meat

Japan

Japanese Black Wagyu

Rangers Valley Cattle Station

Australia

Angus

Albers GMBH

Australia

Wagyu F2+ 75%

One Earth Farms/Heritage Angus

Canada

Angus

Scotbeef (M&S)

Scotland

Aberdeen Angus

Miller and Carter (Mitchells and Butlers plc)/Blades Farming, Somerset

England

Aberdeen Angus Cross

Flat Iron

England

Dexter

Hannan Meats

Northern Ireland

Shorthorn

Silver Winners

Silver Winners

Entered By

Country of origin

Breed of animal

Giraudi

United States

American Black Angus beef

Scotbeef (Aldi UK)

Scotland

Aberdeen Angus

Gourmetfleisch.de

United States

Limousin & Blank Angus

ABP Ireland

Ireland

Angus Cross

Lincolnshire Co-operative

England

Lincolnshire Red/ British Blue

JBS Global

United States

Angus and Angus Charolais Cross

2 Sisters Red Meat t/a St. Merryn Foods

Wales

Aberdeen Angus

Danish Crown UK

Germany

Heifer

Dawn Meats

England

Aberdeen Angus Cross

Morrisons Supermarkets

Scotland

Shorthorn Cross

Barbecoa

Scotland

Charolais

Zandbergen World's Finest Meat

United States

Angus/Angus Cross/ Limousin/ Charolais

Dovecote Park

England

Hereford Cross

Tendermeats

Ireland

Aberdeen Angus Cross

Davidsons Inverurie

Scotland

Wangas

The Butchery

England

Pure Bred Dexter

Rangers Valley Cattle Station

Australia

Angus

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