
Halenda’s scoops the Ron Usborne Award of Excellence
This year at the Ontario Finest Meat Competition Halenda’s entered products across 16 categories in the competition and took home eleven awards in addition to the Ron Usborne.
Winners for Platinum, Gold, and Silver were announced at a gala event held in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Saturday October 26. Judging criteria was based on flavour, aroma, texture, uniqueness and visual appearance, and the top three entries from each category were selected based on the judges’ combined scores.
The Ron Usborne Award of Excellence was introduced in 2007 and is presented to the company achieving the highest accumulated score across all categories in the Ontario Finest Meat Competition™. Scores are calculated by assigning three points for each platinum placing entry, two points for gold, and one point for silver. This year the distinguished award goes to Halenda’s.
The 2019 Ontario Finest Meat Competition™, hosted by Meat & Poultry Ontario, attracted 154 entries from 24 Ontario processors. Mid July, an impressive roster of knowledgeable, influential judges including retail buyers, media, chefs, authors and a home economist determined the award winners in each of 16 categories.
Check out the behind the scenes video of the judging for the competition.
Ontario Finest Meat Competition 2019
“We are honoured to have won these product awards. It is testament to the care our employees put into each and every product they make,” – Richard Halenda, owner.

Stephanie Arnett-Halenda, Ola Halenda, Richard Halenda, Ricky Halenda and Chirstine Hobson.
Platinum:
Canadian Back Bacon
Craft Beer Bacon
Montreal Smoked Meat
Craft Beer & Cheddar Sausage
Hand Carved Turkey Breast
Gold Award:
Double Smoked Bacon
Beet Sausage
Ham Kobassa
Necken
Silver:
BBQ Back Bacon
Mishka – Mini Dinner Ham.