• Dawn Meats’ 32-day aged Irish Angus striploin streak was crowned the ultimate winner in the 2025 competition

• The steak, which was also named Europe’s Best Steak and the World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin, is sold at Lidl supermarkets in Ireland and Poland 

• Dawn Meats also wins World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye title 

A 32-day aged Irish Angus striploin, produced by Dawn Meats and sold in Lidl supermarkets in Ireland and Poland, has been named as the World’s Best Steak at the World Steak Challenge 2025.

The steak was also named Europe’s Best Steak and the World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin.

In addition to winning the overall global title, Dawn Meats also won the award for the World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye for it’s The Premier Butcher Ribeye Wagyu Cross steak.

In total, Dawn Meats was awarded 10 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals in addition to its four wins in the overall categories – World’s Best Steak, Europe’s Best Steak, World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin and World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye. It was also the only Irish company to win awards in the overall world’s best categories.

The Challenge, now in its 11th edition, recognises the best quality meat across the globe. It is organised by the William Reed global food and drink media company, in partnership with Ireland’s Bord Bia, the Synergy Grill, a leading commercial cooking technology company, and Vlees & Co, a Dutch steakhouse company.

The announcement of the overall winners was made at an award ceremony at Smith & Wollensky in London on Monday, November 10th following a two-day judging process and the announcement of medal winners in September at an event in Vlees & Co steakhouse in Amsterdam.

A total of 304 medals were awarded at this year’s World Steak Challenge, which recognises the best quality meat across the globe. Of the total, 112 were gold medals, 109 steaks were given silver medals and 73 steaks bronze medals.

Overall, Ireland had the greatest medal haul with 68 steaks awarded either a gold, silver or bronze award, ahead of Australia with 40 medals and Argentina with 29 medals.

Australia took home the most gold medals, with 25 steaks from the country taking home an award, closely followed by Ireland, with 24 gold medals.

Dawn Meats was awarded a total of 10 gold, 4 silver and 3 bronze medals. It was also the only Irish company to win awards in the overall category – World’s Best Steak, Europe’s Best Steak, World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin and World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye.

Dunbia, a division of Dawn Meats, also won 1 gold, 3 silver, 5 bronze medals.

Niall Browne, Chief Executive Officer of Dawn Meats, said: “This is fantastic news for Dawn Meats and our partners at Lidl. As one of Europe’s leading meat companies, Dawn Meats is committed to producing high-quality, sustainable, nutritious and great-tasting grass-fed beef products. We consistently strive to achieve high standards for our customers and it’s wonderful when our hard work is recognised, particularly by as prestigious a competition as the World Steak Challenge. Our 32-day aged Irish Angus 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. I would like to thank the staff at Dawn Meats, the farmers who supply us, our partners at Lidl and the judges of the competition. I would also thank the judges for recognising the quality of The Premium Butcher Ribeye Wagyu Cross steak, which was awarded the World’s Best Grass-Fed Ribeye title.”

Neil Lanigan, Commercial Manager with Dawn Meats, said: “Dawn Meats is thrilled to have won World’s Best Steak at the World Steak Competition. 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. This award goes out to our farmers and producers. It’s a massive effort and this award is a huge win for everyone in Irish beef. 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.”

Robert Ryan, Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland Chief Executive Officer, said: “Together with our valued Irish supplier, Dawn Meats, we’re immensely proud our own-brand Irish grass-fed steak has been recognised as World’s Best Steak at the World Steak Challenge. At Lidl, providing the highest quality products at the best value on the market has always been our promise to our customers and this recognition underscores our strong commitment to providing world-class Irish produce at the best value on the market to shoppers across the country.”  

Stefan Chomka, Editor of British-based Restaurant Magazine said: “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. Having a winning steak produced close to home is testament to the high quality of Irish beef and the country’s farming methods.”