Palmwoods butcher bags State Champion Title against nearly 600 entries
L-R Louise Toomey, Jo Byway & Andrea Beard at the Gold Coast awards ceremony.
Hot on the heels of remarkable success at the Australian Charcuterie Excellence Awards earlier this year, the team at AJ’s Country Meats in Palmwoods has brought home another swag of awards - this time from the 2026 Queensland Meat Excellence Awards Sausage King & Burger Competition, held on the Gold Coast last weekend.
Against a record field of nearly 600 entries from across Queensland, AJ’s Apple & Pork Sausages were crowned overall Champion, leading an impressive medal haul for the Palmwoods butcher.
Business owner Andrea Beard said hearing AJ’s name called out as Champion was a moment she wouldn’t forget.
“When they called out our name, I cheered and threw my hands in the air with pure excitement. You couldn’t wipe the smile from my face,” Andrea said.
“To have our whole team there on the night cheering us on made it even more special. We were also cheering for every butcher who had a win. It was incredible to see everyone’s hard work recognised.”
AJ’s secured Gold medals for its Traditional Pork, Apple & Pork, Traditional Beef and Plain Chicken sausages.
Roast Lamb & Caramelised Onion and Garlic & Rosemary Lamb sausages were awarded Silver, while Honey Hickory Beef, Jalapeño Sour Cream & Cheese Beef and Irish Pork each received Bronze.
The awards didn’t stop at sausages.
AJ’s Angus Beef Burger won Gold, while the Feta, Spinach & Shallot Lamb Burger and BBQ Bourbon Beef Burger received Silver.
The Tasty Lamb Burger, Worcestershire Sauce & Caramelised Onion Beef Burger and Jalapeño Beef Burger each received Bronze.
Owner Justin Beard said the results were particularly meaningful because every sausage and burger patty is made by the AJ’s team in-store at Palmwoods.
“Every single sausage and burger patty is made in-store by hand, with passion and love,” Justin said.
“Our customers love them, and to have those products recognised as some of Queensland’s best sausages and burgers leaves us feeling incredibly honoured and humbled.”
“We make everything ourselves right here in the shop, by hand and without the big, fancy machinery or equipment, which makes these wins that little bit more special and personal.”
For the AJ’s team, however, the night was about more than bringing trophies and medals back to Palmwoods.
Andrea said seeing butchers from across Queensland come together to celebrate their trade was an important part of the event.
“At the end of the day, we need to support each other. Every butcher there that night should be proud of what they’ve achieved and the part they’re playing in keeping our industry alive,” she said.
“We all want to see the butcher trade continue to thrive and make sure there are skilled butchers here for many generations to come.”
To cap off the latest awards weekend, AJ’s Country Meats was also named Runner-Up Queensland Butcher Shop of the Year, adding another major achievement to the Palmwoods business’s growing list of accolades.
The recognition comes just as AJ’s celebrates two years in Palmwoods, making the achievement particularly meaningful for the family business and its team.
Andrea said the support of the local community had played a huge part in what AJ’s had achieved in those two years.
“We are incredibly grateful to our customers and the Palmwoods community who continue to support us,” she said.
“Every time someone walks through our doors, recommends us to a friend or comes back for their favourite sausages and burgers, they’re supporting our dream and allowing us to keep doing what we love.”
• AJ’s Country Meats is at Shop 2, 4 Margaret Street, Palmwoods.
