4th June 2025

NACC names 2025 Care Chef of the Year regional finalists

Written by: Edward Waddell
The first round of judging has taken place for this year’s National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2025 competition and the contestants have been selected to compete in the regional heats.

Throughout June and July, regional heats will be held across five of the NACC Regions – Midlands, North, Scotland, South East and South West – with care chefs demonstrating that they can compete with the best when it comes to culinary skills.

The prize is to represent their region in the national final scheduled to take place on 1st October 2025 at Loughborough College. The regional finalists are:

South East - 25th June 2025, University of West London

  • Simon Boyden: Knowle Park Care Home, Aria Care
  • Daniel Bree: Cinnamon Care
  • Jonny Hollis: Aria Care
  • Jerrin Koipurathu Thomas: Cooperscroft Care Home, TLC Care
  • Lorna Parsons: Colten Care
  • Emilio Pascucci: Avery Healthcare
  • Raymond Revell: Mills Meadow, Care UK
  • Anna Sudak: Care UK
  • Jack Wood: Colten Care
  • Steven Wright: Caring Homes

Scotland - 26th June 2025, City of Glasgow College

  • Anna Koziarska: Meallmore Ltd
  • Fiona Mackie: Crossreach Balmedie House
  • Jessica Vreede: Guthrie House Care home

Midlands - 3rd July 2025, Loughborough College

  • James Adcock: Aaron Court, Abbey Healthcare
  • Jack Baker: PJ Care Ltd
  • Matthew Burke: Care UK
  • Janos Csavas: Aria Care
  • Katarzyna Haber-Bialkowska: Care UK
  • Justina Kesterton: Vegetarian for Life
  • Max Neumann: PJ Care Ltd

North - 4th July 2025, Blackpool & The Fylde College

  • Sam Brooks: Porthaven Care Homes
  • Dawn Louise Brown: Greenholme Care Home, Avery Healthcare
  • Alex Connell: Vegetarian for Life
  • David Thompson: Harbour Health Care
  • Paul Wright: Prospect House
  • Nelko Yordanov: Belong Ltd

South West - 11th July 2025, Bristol College

  • Agnieszka Anyabuike: Windmill Care Ltd
  • Caitlin Goodall: AbleCare Homes
  • Tristan Hurford: AbleCare Homes
  • Robert Rofe: Elior Rosewell Court
  • Michal Szulinski: Care UK
  • Ilona Tomza: Porthaven Care Home
  • Clare Broadbent: Devonshire House, Harbour Healthcare

The competing chefs will have to demonstrate to the judges their full understanding of the meals they are providing for their residents whilst introducing their own flair through contemporary flavours. Steve Munkley, vice president of the Craft Guild of Chefs, will once again be the chair of judges.

This year, the competition will be celebrating its silver jubilee. To mark the anniversary, a new website dedicated to the Care Chef of the Year competition has been created. https://nacccarechefoftheyear.co.uk.