Every year Australians eagerly await the results of the Canstar Blue cheese awards to find out which brands have won the public’s vote for best taste, value and quality. But this year, Canstar Blue didn’t crown a single overall winner. Instead, the results were split across three categories: block, sliced & grated. To everyone’s surprise, the brand that topped taste and satisfaction wasn’t always the cheapest. We’ll give you the full rundown below, plus some top-notch tips to make sure you’re getting the best Australian cheese for the best price.
In this blog, we’ll explore:
- What exactly the Canstar Blue cheese award is all about
- Who the winners are across all 3 categories
- Which brands offer the best value for money
- Ways to get the best cheese brands in Australia for less
What Is Canstar Blue’s Cheese Award?
Each year, Canstar Blue surveys over a thousand Australians on the cheese brands they’ve bought over the last 3 months and asks them to rate their satisfaction across factors such as taste, texture, variety, packaging and value for money. The brand that receives the highest overall score takes home the Most Satisfied Customer award and is dubbed the best cheese brand in Australia for that category. It's essentially a popularity contest for the dairy aisle.
Why You Can Trust These Results
Canstar Blue’s awards are based on feedback from everyday Australians, not expert judging panels. Each brand is rated across taste, texture, variety, packaging, value for money and overall satisfaction. This gives shoppers a practical snapshot of which products perform best in real kitchens.
Best Australian Cheese Winners for 2026
Block Cheese: Cracker Barrel
Marking their fourth win since 2019, Cracker Barrel has once again secured the title for best block cheese in Australia, scoring five stars across the board. Renowned for their vintage cheddar cheese that’s made up of 99% Australian ingredients, the brand also offers a range of specialty cheeses, including cracked pepper cheddar, caramelised onion and chilli.
Top 3 store-bought block cheeses
- Cracker Barrel - 5★ Overall Satisfaction
- Jarlsberg - 5★ Overall Satisfaction
- Aldi Westacre - 4★ Overall Satisfaction
Sliced Cheese: Westacre
Aldi’s Westacre claimed the best sliced cheese category with Aussies rating it the highest overall for customer satisfaction. According to Yahoo Lifestyle, this is Westacre’s 8th consecutive win since the introduction of the category. Coming in four flavours (including light tasty, tasty, vintage & colby), the budget-friendly brand’s victory proves that getting your hands on a sandwich-worthy slice doesn’t have to cost big bikkies.
Top 3 store-bought sliced cheeses
- Aldi Westacre - 5★ Overall Satisfaction
- Devondale - 5★ Overall Satisfaction
- Coles - 4★ Overall Satisfaction
Grated Cheese: Westacre
On a roll, Aldi also takes the top spot for grated cheese, shaping up to be one of the most consistently well-rated cheese brands in the country. Their lineup of grated cheese comes in both 500g and 700g bags in light tasty, tasty, pizza, mozzarella, parmesan and Mexican blends.
Top 3 store-bought grated cheeses
- Aldi Westacre - 5★ Overall Satisfaction
- Bega - 4★ Overall Satisfaction
- Woolworths - 4★ Overall Satisfaction
Best Value vs Best Overall
This is where things get interesting for your weekly grocery budget. While Cracker Barrel is the clear winner when it comes to taste and texture, they’re also the more expensive block cheese option. According to Jo Abi in her article for nine.com.au, a 250g block of Cracker Barrel cheese costs $9.70, whereas Aldi’s Westacre (which earned the highest value-for-money rating of any block cheese) costs only $4.49.
Key Takeaway: In two out of three categories, the best overall rated brand is also the cheapest brand, with block cheese being the only exception.
How To Get The Best Cheese Brands In Australia For Less
If you shop smart, you won’t have to choose between quality and price. Based on years of experience helping Aussies save on everyday essentials, our money-saving expert Jessica Pinker recommends the following ways to save on the best supermarket cheese without compromising on quality:
- Keep an eye on the weekly catalogue - Pricier brands like Cracker Barrel are regularly on special at the supermarket, so it's always worth taking a peek at the weekly catalogue.
- Join loyalty programs - Rewards programs (like Flybuys, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Woolworths Everyday Rewards) often offer members-only promotions on groceries, making them a great way to offset the cost of pricier items.
- Opt for blocks over pre-cut - Block cheese tends to be cheaper per kilogram than sliced or grated cheese from the same brand because you’re not paying extra for the processing. If you’ve got an extra 5 minutes, grating or slicing it yourself can stretch your money further.
- Stack specials with promo codes - Combining a supermarket sale with one of our active promo codes is where savings really start adding up. Be sure to take a look at what offers we have available before you check out.
Our Final Thoughts On The Best Australian Cheese
This year’s Canstar Blue customer satisfaction awards prove that the best Australian cheese doesn’t have to be the most expensive option on the shelf. Two of the three winners are also the best value option in their category. As for the one exception, you can close the price gap by timing your purchase around specials. As always, be sure to keep an eye out for Aldi, Coles and Woolworths discount codes on our site or have them delivered straight to your inbox by signing up for the Love Coupons newsletter.
