You might expect the “World’s Best Steak” to come from a high-end butcher shop or an exclusive farm, but at the 2025 World Steak Challengethe top honor went to a contender that shoppers in Ireland and Poland can pick up alongside their milk and eggs — a 32-day-aged Irish Angus striploin from Lidl.

The cut from the German discount grocery chain — a brand known for its low prices and no-frills aisles — didn’t just take the overall crown. Produced in partnership with Dawn Meats, it also secured titles for Europe’s Best Steak and World’s Best Grass-Fed Sirloin, challenging the long-held assumption that the finest beef is the exclusive domain of specialist producers.

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Organizers announced the results in London on November 10, following a rigorous two-day masked tasting in Amsterdam, where than 500 steaks were grilled and scored. The outcome signals a massive rise for Irish beef — but perhaps importantly, it proves that world-class quality is now lurking in the standard supermarket meat case.

To fully appreciate the win, one must look at the cut’s remarkable sensory profile. The expert judging panel singled out the Irish Angus Striploin — available only in Lidl stores in Ireland and Poland — for its exceptional balance of texture and taste.

The judges’ notes confirmed its superior qualities. They praised its “unique combination of flavor and tenderness,” stating that “the tenderness is similar to the tenderloin, but it also carries a wonderful taste similar to a ribeye,” adding that the cut “offers the best in terms of texture and flavour.”

For Lidl and Dawn Meatsthe win validates a consumer-first approach. Robert Ryan, CEO of Lidl Ireland, notes that the victory highlights a shift in what shoppers can expect from their local grocer.

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“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,” Ryan says. “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.”

Beyond the single winning steak, the 2025 challenge revealed a broader trend: the dominance of Irish farming. Much like the recent rise of English sparkling wine or Oregon craft beer, Irish beef is having a major moment.

The sector claimed the competition’s greatest overall medal haul with 68 awards — finishing ahead of beef heavyweights Australia (40 medals) and Argentina (29 medals).

The win validates the recent approval of the Irish Grass Fed Beef Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) by the European Union. This PGI status, which places Irish beef alongside Champagne and Parma Ham, is achieved by adhering to strict standards that require cattle to graze on pasture for a minimum of 220 days per year, with a diet of at least 90% grass.

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Niall Browne, CEO of Dawn Meats, reinforces this connection to the country’s heritage. “This is fantastic news for Dawn Meats and our partners at Lidl,” Browne says. “Our 32-day aged Irish Angus striploin is made from grass-fed Irish beef supplied by the farming families we work with.”

The World Steak Challenge, organized by William Reed, serves as a platform for producers to benchmark product quality on an international stage. The judging process is independent and rigorous; for the 2025 challenge, steaks were cooked and judged blind by a panel of than 60 independent experts at Vlees & Co steakhouse in Amsterdam.

All entries were scored in a two-stage process across 10 criteria, including raw attributes such as appearance and marbling, as well as cooked qualities such as flavor, succulence, and tenderness.

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While Ireland secured the greatest overall medal haul, the super-premium category remains fierce, with Jack’s Creek once again dominating the Wagyu titles.

“Being named the world’s best Wagyu is an incredible honour,” says Kaine Allan, Jack’s Creek UK & EU head of sales, commenting on the Australian company’s continuous success. “Every steak we enter represents the hard work of our team and partners — this result reinforces our position as one of the finest Wagyu producers in the world.”

While you won’t find this exact cut stateside, the message is clear. Great steak isn’t limited to white-tablecloth rooms — and your supermarket meat case can prove it.