Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2024 announced

The international Young Cheesemonger of the Year competition has named its 2024 winner, celebrating the next generation of talent in the retail sector of the global cheese industry. 

Londoner, Daniel Iliev, a 28-year-old cheesemonger originally from Bulgaria, was crowned after a very close-run competition between six young cheese professionals from around the World.
 
Young Cheesemonger of the Year, organised by the Academy of Cheese and sponsored by Peter’s Yard and the Guild of Fine Food, is dedicated to recognising and celebrating emerging talent in the cheese industry. The global competition drew entries from Australia, Greece, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.

Cheesemongers aged 30 or under vied for a place in the finals by submitting resumés and cheeseboard recommendations earlier this year. The six shortlisted finalists travelled to the Pavilhão Multiusos de Viseu in Portugal for five rigorous rounds, watched by an international audience of World Cheese Award judges and industry leaders.

Held alongside the World Cheese Awards, the competition was judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts, including Sarah Miness from Waitrose, Mathew Carver from The Cheese Bar, Nick Bayne from The Fine Cheese Co, and Keith Kendrick from Good Food and Olive magazines. Contestants were assessed on their knowledge of cheese varieties, their precise cutting and wrapping techniques, their passion for the craft, and, new for 2024, their ability to create and present a perfect pairing to the judges featuring one cheese, a Peter’s Yard cracker, and a complementary accompaniment.

“This year’s finalists truly set the bar high with their phenomenal skills. Each of these six exceptionally talented mongers is destined for a shining future in the cheese world, and with them in our community, the future of cheese retail looks equally promising,” said Waitrose speciality cheese and cheese counter buyer, Sarah Miness.

Daniel, who currently works at Paxton & Whitfield in London, but has also accumulated eight years of valuable experience with legendary cheesemongers The Fine Cheese Co and La Fromagerie, impressed the judges with his perfect pairing, despite having to improvise after his original accompaniment of black garlic jam was confiscated at Gatwick airport. Using his tasting skills and creativity, Daniel sourced a local pumpkin and orange jam with rosemary and eucalyptus honey to pair with King Stone Dairy’s Rollright atop a Rosemary & Sea Salt sourdough cracker, proving a hit with the judges. 

But it was Daniel’s accurate cutting to weight and meticulous wrapping that secured his win, gaining valuable points over his fellow contestants. 
“Winning means such a lot to me.” said Daniel, after receiving the award. “The competition was fun, challenging and fantastic for connecting with other people in the industry.” Daniel spent weeks training for the competition adding, “I prepared by cutting and wrapping cheese as quickly and accurately as possible.” He wasn’t alone in his preparations it seems, acknowledging the backing of his employer, “Paxton & Whitfield were incredibly supportive of my application, and I was positively overwhelmed by the amount of knowledge I have gained over the past seven months. Special thanks to Dan who made sure I dotted my ‘i’s’ and crossed my ‘t’s’.” And of his colleague and partner, Georgina Donatantonia, who tested him to ensure his knowledge remained on point, he added, “I couldn’t have done it without her.”

Daniel joined the Jermyn Street store of Paxton & Whitfield earlier this year where he has settled into the role of shop manager. Managing director, James Rutter, was thrilled with the result, adding, “I am so delighted for Daniel and glad that his hard work really paid off.”
As part of the prize, Daniel will receive an Academy of Cheese Level Two course, a feature in Fine Food Digest, a Cheesemonger Tool Set from BOSKA Pro, as well as the opportunity to judge at next year’s World Cheese Awards in Bern, Switzerland.
Taking the runner-up spot was Mia Crouch from Supercheese in Melbourne, Victoria.

The competition serves as a platform for young talent to gain visibility and advance their careers in the growing field of speciality cheese retailers. With consumer demand for high-quality, artisanal cheeses on the rise, the role of skilled cheesemongers has never been more important.
“We are so proud of all the talented young cheesemongers who participated this year,” said Tracey Colley, one of the founding directors of the Academy of Cheese. “This year’s winner is a shining example of the passion and dedication we see in the next generation of cheesemongers. Daniel is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Picture: Guild of Fine Food