Welcome to Competitions

The Craft Guild of Chefs is proud to celebrate with them.

Here you will find everything you need to know about the various culinary competitions that take place throughout the year - everything from the flagship National Chef of the Year contest through to the specialist Tilda Chef of the Year Competition.

This section will reveal where each is taking place, how you can get involved and those all important winners and runners up.

Current competitions:

Previous competitions:

Latest Competition News

03rd Nov 2025

Nestlé Professional’s Toque d’Or competition opens registrations for 2026

By: Edward Waddell

This year’s theme is cultural fusion, diversity and innovation. It reflects the dynamic and ever-evolving world of hospitality, encouraging students to embrace new flavours, ideas and perspectives

31st Oct 2025

Ardy Ferguson wins S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition

By: Edward Waddell

The S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy competition aims to empower talented young chefs through unparalleled connections with renowned culinary figures, education, mentorship and further networking

31st Oct 2025

Compass Group names Lee Redman as Senior Chef of the Year winner

By: Edward Waddell

The contest, which this year took place at The School of Culinary Arts & Food Technology in Technological University Dublin, showcases the company’s best-in-class culinary talent with an opportunity

30th Oct 2025

RAF chef Stefan Sewell wins Kraft Heinz culinary competition

By: Edward Waddell

The competition, in partnership with chef James Cochran and the Craft Guild of Chefs, saw five finalists battle it out for the coveted top spot. Finalists received one-on-one mentorship from Cochran

More Competitions News

05th Mar 2019

Kikkoman Masters 2019 now open

Entries must be submitted by 28 June and detail their two courses made using Kikkoman naturally brewed soy sauce. Alongside...

05th Mar 2019

One week to enter 3 Counties Salon Culinaire

Run in conjunction with Central Bedfordshire College, the annual competition is a fantastic opportunity for student chefs...

21st Feb 2019

Country Range announces Student Chef Challenge finalists

This includes: Ayrshire College Carlisle College City of Glasgow College Coventry College Loughborough College Newcastle...

08th Feb 2019

Major Series 2019 kicks off

Co-run by Major Series and the Craft Guild of Chefs, each of the challenges, including the chicken, street food and pasta...

08th Feb 2019

Craft Guild announces 2018 Major Series winner

Having competed against seven other ‘talented’ finalists, Royle impressed judges with her butternut squash and cumin soup...

06th Feb 2019

Craft Guild opens entry for National Chef of the Year 2020

Despite the cold British weather, organisers are focusing on warmer times as competitors are required to produce a creative...

28th Jan 2019

Craft Guild opens 2019 Graduate Awards, urging employers to spotlight young chefs

Since launching in 2002, we have thus far seen 69 chefs pass the Graduate Award with former achievers going on to win Young...

24th Jan 2019

HEAT competition finalists revealed

Open to culinary colleges across the UK, the 11-man teams (comprising kitchen and restaurant students) will now go head-to...

15th Jan 2019

National Chef of Wales finalists revealed

Going head-to-head to be named National Chef of Wales 2019 are colleagues Matthew Ramsdale (26), Sam Griffiths (24) and...

10th Dec 2018

Christopher Basten calls for last minute Country Range Student Chef Challenge entries

As Craft Guild chairman of judges, Basten is heavily involved in the annual contest and said the organisers wanted to make...