Dawn Meats' Irish Angus striploin scoops award for World's Best Steak
L-R: Neil Curran, Robert Hatton of Lidl Ireland, and Neil Lanigan of Dawn Meats, pictured at the World Steak Challenge in Smith & Wollensky, London.
Dawn Meats won the award for the World’s Best Steak at the World Steak Challenge in London on November 10.
The winning cut was Dawn Meat’s 32-day aged Irish Angus striploin streak, which is sold in Lidl. The Waterford-based meat processors were the only Irish company to win awards in the overall competition.
The Steak Challenge is organised by the William Reed global food and drink media company, in partnership with Bord Bia, the Synergy Grill and Vlees & Co.
“We consistently strive to achieve high standards for our customers and it’s wonderful when our hard work is recognised,” said Dawn Meats Chief Executive Niall Browne.
“Our 32-day aged Irish striploin is made from grass-fed Irish beef supplied by the farming families we work with. It’s on sale in Lidl and it’s readily available, so shoppers can try it for themselves,” Mr Browne said.
Dawn Meats also won the award for the World’s Best Grass Fed Ribeye for their Premier Butcher Ribeye Wagyu Cross steak.
There were 40 judges from the global beef industry working at the Steak Challenge.
“This year’s winner shows that the best steaks can be available to everybody and the lengths that suppliers and retailers go to bring top quality beef to people’s tables,” said Restaurant Magazine editor Stefan Chomka.
“Having a winning steak produced close to home is testament to the high quality of Irish beef and the country’s farming methods.”
Ireland topped the medal charts at the Steak Challenge with 68 steaks awarded either a gold, silver or bronze award.
Dawn Meats won 10 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals, while their subsidiary Dunbia won 1 gold, 3 silvers and 5 bronzes.
"We are so passionate about our beef so to win the award for Europe's Best Steak and then to go on to win the World's Best Steak is unbelievable," said Neil Lanigan, Commercial Manager at Dawn Meats.
"This award is an independent endorsement of our beef quality, reflecting the hard work of our team and the trust our customers place in us. Irish beef is full of flavour, tenderness and juiciness – qualities that chefs and retailers around the world have come to rely on.”
