The Parmigiano Reggiano PDO is confirmed as the reference hard cheese in the global panorama, consolidating a primacy that combines organoleptic excellence and market solidity. The successes achieved in the main international competitions represent a quality milestone and at the same time reflect the effectiveness of a protection model that since 1996 has safeguarded the product’s authenticity. In the two-year period 2024-2025, the denomination marked a historic turning point: for the first time, theexport surpassed domestic market sales, projecting the supply chain towards a record turnover of 3.2 billion euros.
The 2024 edition of the World Cheese Awards, held in Viseu, Portugal on November 15, 2024, represented a historic moment for Parmigiano Reggiano. The ‘Parmigiano Reggiano National Team’ achieved 118 overall medals, including 5 prestigious Super Gold, the highest recognition awarded by the technical jury of the Guild of Fine Food (Guild of Fine Food, 2024). This result constitutes an absolute record for a single denomination, considering that the competition evaluated 4,786 cheeses from 47 countries through a panel of 240 judges coming from 40 countries (Guild of Fine Food, 2024).
The 5 Super Gold awards were assigned to the dairies: Società Agricola Fratelli Boldini (Traversetolo, Parma) for the category under 23 months, Latteria Sociale Moderna (Bibbiano, Reggio Emilia) for the 30-39 months category, Caseifici Granterre – La Nuova 2000 (Bibbiano) over 40 months, Casearia F.lli Dotti (Bibbiano) 30-39 months, and Antica Fattoria Scalabrini (Reggionline, 2024).
The Portuguese triumph highlights the extraordinary productive biodiversity of the denomination: among the awarded dairies there are productions from Friesian cows, the prevailing breed, as well as those from Reggiana breed cows, which confer distinctive organoleptic characteristics. This diversity allows Parmigiano Reggiano to express a complex aromatic range.
International awards: dominance at the World Cheese Awards
2025 opens with further recognitions. The Great Taste Awards 2025, organized by the Guild of Fine Food, saw the Parmigiano Reggiano DOP 48 months from Caseificio Sociale Allegro among the Italian products that won the 3 stars, a result reserved for only 1.9% of the 14,340 products submitted from 110 countries (Guild of Fine Food, 2025). The product was also nominated for the prestigious Great Taste Golden Fork Awards held on September 9, 2025 at the Battersea Arts Centre in London (Guild of Fine Food, 2025).
I World Cheese Awards 2025 held in Bern in November 2025 saw Italy ranked as the third most awarded nation with 376 total recognitions, after Spain and Switzerland. Parmigiano Reggiano obtained 103 medals overall: 3 Super Gold, 27 gold medals, 34 silvers and 40 bronzes (Italianfood.net, 2025).
The three Super Gold awards were assigned to: Caseificio 4 Madonne dell’Emilia (Modena) with a Parmigiano Reggiano aged over 40 months; Latteria Sociale San Bartolomeo (Reggio Emilia) with an aging of 30-39 months; Latteria Sociale San Girolamo (Guastalla, Reggio Emilia) with an aging of 24-29 months. With these results, the Parmigiano Reggiano National Team reaches 937 awards from 2001 to today (Italianfood.net, 2025).
Taste Diplomacy: the Casello d’Oro Awards in London and Madrid
The Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese Consortium organized in February 2025 the second edition of the Casello d’Oro Awards at the British Museum in London, an event that celebrated the 13 dairy winners of the 2024 Parmigiano Reggiano Palio (Deli Business, 2025). The event, attended by the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Inigo Lambertini and hosted by Valentina Harris, an Italian cuisine expert from the BBC, awarded two special mentions for the best structure and the best aromatic profile to Caseificio 4 Madonne dell’Emilia di Varana di Serramazzoni (Modena).
In January 2026, the third edition of the Casello d’Oro Awards was held in Madrid, celebrating the winners of the 2025 Palio. Spain imports over 1,800 tons annually of Parmigiano Reggiano with a growth of +2.5% year over year (Food & Beverage Magazine, 2026). The event saw special mentions awarded to Caseificio Sociale di Monzato for the best structure and the best aromatic profile.
Market dynamics: the historic overtaking of exports
Success in international competitions translates into tangible benefits for the entire production sector. In 2024, Parmigiano Reggiano reached a retail turnover record of 3.2 billion euros (+4.9% compared to 2023), with an increase in volume sales of +9.2% (Italianfood.net, 2025). According to the 23rd ISMEA-Qualivita Report 2025, the production value reached 1.76 billion euros (+10.1%) with 160,007 tons produced (Ismea & Fondazione Qualivita, 2025).
The Protection Consortium groups about 350 dairies. Theexport in 2024 reached 72,440 tons with an increase of +13,7%, representing 48.7% of the total (Italianfood.net, 2025). The main markets recorded excellent performance: United States (+13.4%), France (+9.1%), Germany (+13.3%), United Kingdom (+17.8%), Canada (+24.5%), Japan (+6.1%) and Australia (+28.2%).
In the January-August period 2025, theexport accounted for 53,2% of total sales, surpassing the domestic market for the first time in history (Italianfood.net, 2025). Sales in the Italian retail channel also showed in 2024 an increase of +1% in volume (47,383 tonnes) and of +4.1% in value (over 873 million euros) (Fondazione Qualivita, 2025).
The value of the specification: biodiversity and certified quality
International success is based on production specification, now protected by Regulation (EU) 2024/1143. The specification imposes stringent constraints: from the feeding of cows, which must include at least 50% forage produced in the area of origin and exclude the use of silage, to artisanal processing techniques.
The exclusive use of raw milk, coagulation with natural calf rennet, absence of additives and minimum aging of 12 months are distinctive elements. Research has identified a unique microbial biodiversity, with over 50 species of lactic acid bacteria (Gatti et al., 2014).
Integrated sustainability: the circular model with the Prosciutto di Parma PDO supply chain
The use of residual whey for feeding pigs destined for Parma Ham PDO production represents an example of circular economy. This system valorizes over 2 million tons of whey annually, creating value in the pig farming supply chain.
Conclusions
Parmigiano Reggiano PDO demonstrates how the system of Geographical Indications
can evolve into a strategic asset for the national economy without renouncing its founding values. The combination of commercial innovation and production rigor — guaranteed by a specification that excludes additives and promotes microbial biodiversity — ensures to the ‘King of cheesesIt plays a global benchmark role. With constantly rising exports and a system sustainability tied to the pork supply chain, the Emilia DOP sets itself as a guide for the future of quality agri-food.
Editorial staff of GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade)
References
- Deli Business. (2025, February 12). The Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium Presents The Casello D’oro Awards to the 13 Winning Dairies of the 2024 Parmigiano Reggiano Palio. https://delibusiness.com/the-parmigiano-reggiano-consortium-presents-the-casello-doro-awards-to-the-13-winning-dairies-of-the-2024-parmigiano-reggiano-palio/
- Food & Beverage Magazine. (2026, February). Casello d’Oro Awards 2026: Celebrating the Champions of Parmigiano Reggiano in Madrid. https://www.fb101.com/casello-doro-awards-2026-celebrating-the-champions-of-parmigiano-reggiano-in-madrid/
- Fondazione Qualivita. (2025, January 15). Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, sales 2024: +1% by volume, +4.1% by value. https://www.qualivita.it/news/parmigiano-reggiano-dop-vendite-2024-1-a-volume-41-a-valore/
- Gatti, M., Bottari, B., Lazzi, C., Neviani, E., & Mucchetti, G. (2014). Invited review: Microbial evolution in raw-milk, long-ripened cheeses produced using undefined natural whey starters. Journal of Dairy Science, 97(2), 573-591. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2013-7187
- Guild of Fine Food. (2024, November 15). Spoonable cheese from Portugal named best in the world. https://gff.co.uk/articles/2024/11/spoonable-cheese-from-portugal-named-best-in-the-world/
- Guild of Fine Food. (2024). World Cheese Awards 2024 Trophy Winners. https://gff.co.uk/world-cheese-awards-2024-trophy-winners/
- Guild of Fine Food. (2025, September 9). Great Taste Golden Forks 2025 Winners. https://gff.co.uk/great-taste-golden-forks-2025-winners/
- Guild of Fine Food. (2025, July). Great Taste Golden Forks 2025 Nominees. https://gff.co.uk/articles/2025/07/great-taste-golden-forks-2025-nominees/
- Ismea & Fondazione Qualivita. (2025). ISMEA-Qualivita 2025 Report on Italian agri-food and wine productions DOP, IGP and STG (23rd ed.). Qualivita Editions. https://www.ismea.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252Fe%252F8%252FD.fefdd2e7c08546544955/P/BLOB%3AID%3D13512/E/pdf?mode=download
- Italianfood.net. (2025, 18 April). Parmigiano Reggiano Breaks Revenue Record in 2024. https://news.italianfood.net/2025/04/18/parmigiano-reggiano-turnover-2024/
- Italianfood.net. (2025, 19 November). Italy Ranks Third at the World Cheese Awards 2025. https://news.italianfood.net/2025/11/19/italy-ranks-third-at-the-world-cheese-awards-2025/
- Italianfood.net. (2025, 1 October). Parmigiano Reggiano: exports outpace domestic sales. https://news.italianfood.net/2025/10/01/parmigiano-reggiano-exports-outpace-domestic-sales/
- Reggionline. (2024, 16 November). World Cheese Awards: record of awards for Parmigiano Reggiano. https://www.reggionline.com/world-cheese-awards-portogallo-record-riconoscimento-parmigiano-reggiano/
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1143/oj
