Stockyard is thrilled to announce it has been crowned the 2024 winner of the fiercely contested Darling Downs Beef Battle for the second year in a row. The winning product, kiwami by Stockyard, was assessed by an exclusive panel of expert judges and in securing the win, takes out the coveted title of ‘Australia’s Best Steak’, once again.
The accolade comes on the back of several medals secured by the brand in recent weeks at the Sydney Royal Fine Food Awards where kiwami by Stockyard won not only a gold medal, but two championships, winning Champion Branded Beef and Champion Branded Meat, outperforming 61 other entries.
kiwami by Stockyard was recognised at the Darling Downs Beef Battle for its exquisite blend of mouthwatering flavours, tenderness, and luxurious richness, and with marble scores of 9+, is considered to exemplify the art of Wagyu craftsmanship. Stockyard’s Wagyu cattle are derived from industry leading genetics and are grain-fed for over 400 days at Kerwee Feedlot in Jondaryan, on the famous Darling Downs in Queensland.
The genetics of this award-winning piece came from a long-term supplier to Stockyard, the Robertson Family from Crown Cattle Company in Hughenden who produce premium wagyu and are aligned with Stockyard’s commitment to excellence and sustainable production.
“We are delighted to win the Beef Battle. With much of the nation’s grain fed beef production coming from the Darling Downs region, we knew we were going head-to-head with some of Australia’s finest. For a relatively small region, the Darling Downs punches well above its weight when we consider the scale of global of beef production. In recent years, the industry has seen a focus on genetic gain, continuous improvement in eating quality and sustainability and we are really seeing that reflected in the high-quality beef Australia is producing, beef that is exported to all corners of the world.” said Stockyard’s Chief Executive Officer, Lisa Sharp.
“To consistently produce such highly awarded beef requires a commitment to excellence at every point in our supply chain. Our producers, processing partners, distributors and our own team work tirelessly to deliver not only exceptional beef products but also exceptional customer service to all our consumers across the globe. Stockyard have been honing the craft of outstanding beef production for over 66 years and are excited to be able to represent the very best of the region on a global stage.”
The Darling Downs Beef Battle was established in 2017 and is an initiative of Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) Food Leaders. As per 2023, this year saw two categories awarded, the People’s Choice, as judged by the audience on the night and Australia’s Best Steak, as judged by an expert panel. The panel, comprising of local chefs and industry experts scrutinized 18 entrants across two categories to determine the winner of Australia’s Best Steak.