Cooper Sharp Will Partner With World Food Championships

The 130-year-old cheese brand will serve as the exclusive provider for the Burger Battle in Indianapolis.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Food and Drink

Bold vector editorial illustration of a slice of cheddar cheese melting onto a burger patty, representing a culinary partnership.
Cooper Sharp will serve as the exclusive cheese provider for the World Food Championships' Burger Battle in Indianapolis this October. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you try incorporating competition-grade specialty cheeses into your own home-cooked meals?

Cooper Sharp will join the World Food Championships in Indianapolis as the exclusive cheese provider for the Burger Battle on October 15, 2026. The brand will supply its White and Black Pepper varieties to competitors at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and Event Center.

Why it matters

The partnership highlights the importance of ingredient quality in high-stakes culinary competitions where flavor and meltability are essential for success. Chefs across ten categories will utilize the cheese to compete for a share of a prize purse exceeding $400,000.

The Burger Battle features 30 competitors tasked with crafting up to 250 sliders each. This event is part of a larger competition involving 300 teams vying for a total cash prize purse of over $400,000.

The players

Cooper Sharp

This is a cheese brand with a 130-year history known for its signature flavor profile and specific melting capabilities.

World Food Championships

This organization hosts a large-scale culinary competition that draws hundreds of teams from across the globe to compete for significant cash prizes.

The details

Chefs participating in the Burger Battle will use Cooper Sharp White and Black Pepper cheese to build their signature entries at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Beyond the specific battle, the cheese will be available in the competitor pantry for all participants across the event's ten categories to elevate their dish profiles.

Timeline

  1. October 15, 2026: The Burger Battle occurs at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

  2. October 15-18, 2026: The World Food Championships 2026 takes place in Indianapolis.

Industry Dynamics

This partnership mirrors the trend of legacy food brands leveraging major culinary events to reinforce brand relevance in a crowded market. By integrating into the World Food Championships, Cooper Sharp aligns itself with high-level culinary standards and professional kitchen workflows.

Attendees can visit the Indiana State Fairgrounds to watch the competition unfold in person alongside thousands of other spectators. Those interested in the brand can learn more about the products used by the competing chefs by visiting official resources.

The takeaway

The event serves as a showcase for professional culinary techniques using high-quality staple ingredients. Home cooks can emulate these competition-grade results by focusing on cheese selections that prioritize consistent meltability and bold flavor profiles.

Further reading

For more on local culinary events and partnerships, visit the Food and Drink section.

More information

For more information on the product line, visit the Cooper Sharp official website.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Deli Market News.

Live Poll

Would you try incorporating competition-grade specialty cheeses into your own home-cooked meals?