10 Medals at the Royal® Australian Food Awards

Turban Chopsticks has claimed national recognition at the Royal® Australian Food Awards 2025, securing 10 medals including the Gold Medal and Best in Class trophy for its Satay Peanuts, judged the best savoury sauce in Australia.

Part of the My PlantCo family of companies, Turban Chopsticks has built its reputation on creating contemporary sauces, curries and chutneys inspired by traditional South Asian and Asian flavours, made with Western Australian produce.

Founder and CEO Mei Yong said the win demonstrates that WA can stand confidently on the national and global food stage.

“This award is a celebration of WA’s capability for culinary excellence and innovation. Our team is proud to represent the flavours that make Perth’s culinary scene so vibrant - from laksa and rendang to satay. These are flavours that resonate with multicultural Australia and are now gaining recognition from national judges,” said Mei.

Our winning products included Silver for Laksa Vegan, Thai Green Curry and Rendang Curry and Bronze for Tomato Chutney, Yellow Curry, Korma Curry, Thai Red Curry, Butter Chicken and Sambal Vegan.

The recognition comes at a time when Australia’s appetite for ethnic and fusion foods is surging. According to Credence Research, the Australia Ethnic Food Market was valued at USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is forecast to more than double to USD 2.7 billion by 2032, growing at an annual average rate of 9.45%. The growth is driven by Australia’s increasingly adventurous dining habits.

“We’ve always believed that global flavours belong at the heart of everyday Australian dining,” said Mei.

“From curries to briyani and laksa noodle soup, these are dishes that connect us to our heritage while appealing to the modern palate. To see such strong demand in both Australia and overseas markets is proof that WA can lead the way in this category.”

Turban Chopsticks products are now stocked Australia-wide as well as in Malaysia and Singapore, a reflection of international appetite for both the brand and WA’s high-quality produce.

The Best in Class Satay Peanuts is particularly significant for Ms Yong, as the recipe was passed down from her father, who was renowned for his satay in Kuala Lumpur before the family migrated to Australia in 1988. It later became a customer favourite at the family’s iconic Perth restaurant, Sri Melaka, before being adapted for a broader market while championing WA-grown ingredients.

With Turban Chopsticks’ success and My PlantCo’s growing portfolio of sustainable food ventures - including Real Oats, which is pioneering oat-based rice, noodles, and pasta and Kado, which is innovating Australian hass avocados - WA’s reputation as a hub of food innovation continues to grow.

“This recognition is not only for Turban Chopsticks, but for Western Australia as a food destination,” said Mei.

“It shows that our flavours, our produce, and our innovation can shine on a national stage and that WA can help drive the next chapter in Australia’s love with and for global cuisines.”