Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2025 opens for entry

Photo credit: M Horwood / Guild of Fine Food

The Academy of Cheese has announced that Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2025, sponsored by Peter’s Yard, is open for entry until Monday 21 September, with the not-for-profit organisation now calling on young talent across the global cheese industry to apply. Open to any cheesemonger aged 30 or under, the competition will take place at the World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland on Thursday 13 November.

First founded in 2016 by Justin Tunstall, and then relaunched by the Academy of Cheese in 2022 in order to open the competition up to the international cheese community, Young Cheesemonger of the Year was established to celebrate and support professional development within the industry. To enter, up-and-coming cheesemongers must complete a short entry form, and successful applicants will be informed by 3 October 2025 if they will be invited to compete at the finals in Switzerland.

Contestants will take part in five rounds of judging at the Festhalle in Bern, with challenges including cheeseboard preparation, weighing and wrapping, cheese identification, pairing with Peter’s Yard crackers, and finally the ‘MasterRind’ quiz. The winner will receive the coveted Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2025 trophy, a Boska Pro Cheese Tools Kit, a feature in Fine Food Digest magazine, a place on the Academy of Cheese Level Two certification course, and an invitation to judge at the World Cheese Awards 2026.

Tracey Colley, founding director of the Academy of Cheese, commented:

“As the only international competition that specifically celebrates young cheesemongers, we’re delighted to be extending our global reach year-on-year, and can’t wait to hold our next edition in one of the world’s most respected cheesemaking nations. Across the world, the skilled profession of cheesemonger is gaining recognition as an exciting career option for young people. With the support of our main sponsors, Peter’s Yard, we’re here to celebrate that, and add momentum to this movement. We’ve had contestants from six different countries over the last couple of years, showing off some incredible cutting, pairing and cheese knowledge, and we’re looking forward to seeing even more nations involved in 2025.”

Any cheesemonger aged 30 or under at the time of the competition can apply at academyofcheese.org/young-cheesemonger-of-the-year, from now until Monday 21 September.

Successful applicants will be informed by Friday 3 October, and the Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2025 final will take place at the World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland on Thursday 13 November.