The South Australian Food Industry Awards Program first came into being as a group of different awards for different primary industry sectors including agriculture, horticulture, and fibre, in the late 1990s. Over the years, award categories have been refined and refreshed, and new categories added to recognise outstanding contributions to the industry and to South Australia.

Through the connections built by this awards program, our state’s reputation for quality, innovation and excellence continues to grow as businesses work together and set new benchmarks for the industry as a whole.

Food South Australia became the manager and host of the South Australian Food Industry Awards Program in 2012, with support from the Government of South Australia. Over the last six years, Food South Australia has fostered growth of the program each year, culminating in the Gala Dinner each November, which is now widely recognised as the industry’s largest event on the annual calendar and our ‘night of nights’.

A Consumer Award voted for by consumers was introduced in 2013. Prior to the introduction of consumer voting for this award, the Understanding Consumer Award was awarded by the judging panel.

The Consumer Legend Award was introduced in 2018, to recognise the outstanding achievement of a business that has won the Consumer Award three or more times.

South Australia’s first food and fibre awards were launched in 1998. Over the period 1998-2011, various award categories changed. The list below shows the years these awards were conferred and the winners. In the late 1990’s, a range of industry award programs operated. Over time, these have been consolidated into what is now the South Australian Premier’s Food and Beverage Industry Awards.