The finalist rounds will be taking place on 7th November (London), 12th November (Manchester) and 14th November (Hereford) which will see each contestant create, decorate, and present their best gelato flavour.

Paul Ingram, Carpigiani UK’s managing director, said: “We are very excited to bring the Gelato Challenge back to the UK. There have been so many fantastic entries, and we cannot wait to see so many talented chefs from across the country showcase the very best of artisan gelato.

“On behalf of everyone at Carpigiani, we want to wish all our finalists the very best of luck and say thank you to the remarkable judges who will be on the gelato jury panel to name 2024’s best gelato chefs in the UK.”

Park Royal, London heat finalists:

• Fabiano Franzoso - Gelato Chef at Cremoloso Gelato Ltd, London
• Cristian Bonaina - Founder & Director at Wave Gelato, London
• Biagio Bonaina – Founder, Head Pastry Chef & Maestro Gelatiere at Wave Gelato, London
• Taseer Ahmad – Founder & Gelato Chef at Fabulous Ice Fires, London
• Tamas Kiss – Partner & BDM at Ildiko's Chocolate, Surrey
• Phil Harrison – Co-Founder & Managing Director at Bears Ice Cream, London
• Jon Adams – Owner at Gelato Gusto, Chichester
• Diego Alfonso Celis – Owner & Manager at Bertotti, London
• Anshu Anghotra – Owner & Gelato Chef at The Gelato Kitchen, Loughton
• Anirudh Khurana – Director at Ardens Natural Ice Cream, Milton Keynes
• Lewis Ratto – Owner at Alfonso Gelateria, Oxford
• Donna Silva – Owner at D'Celestial Artizan, London

Food Sorcery, Manchester heat finalists:

• Jack Boam – Gelato Chef at Tagg Lane Dairy, Bakewell
• Roberto Culivicchi – Owner & Gelato Chef at Roberto Authentic Italian Gelato, York
• Martin Crolla – Co-Owner & Gelato Chef at Crolla’s, Glasgow
• Samantha Cunliffe – Managing Director at Bene Gelateria, Frodsham
• Michele Williams – Owner & Gelato Chef at Macari's Gelateria, Manchester
• Monika Ozablio – Co-Owner & Gelato Chef at Oscar’s Gelato, Edinburgh
• Peter Giacopazzi – Owner at Giacopazzi’s Gelato, Eyemouth
• Melissa Morgan – Owner & Gelato Chef at Hufenfa'r Castell, Harlech
• Carlos Rojas Rueda – Gelato Chef at Cashel Palace Hotel, Tipperary

Carpigiani HQ, Hereford heat finalists:

• Giorgio Lo Monte – Head Gelato Chef at Filippo’s Gelateria, Warwick
• Sara Young – Co-Owner at Hoorays Gelato Kitchen, Stratford-upon-Avon
• Antonio De Vecchi or Daniele Taverna – Co-Founders & Gelato Chefs at Gelato Village, Leicester
• Daniele Panunzio – Founder & Managing Director at Panunzio's Kitchen Gelati Italiani, Bristol
• Akram Alabed – Gelato Chef at Alfonso Gelateria, Witney
• Sammi Rogers – Owner at Aran Hufen la Ice Cream, Bala
• Mariana Zeraschi – Co-Owner at Zio’s Gelateria, Barry Island
• Zoe Graham – Product Manager at Surfing Cow Ice Cream, Plymouth

After being named the winner on the day of their competition one chef from each heat will be taken on an all-expenses-paid trip to Bologna in Italy, to compete against more than 40 gelato chefs from across the globe in the European finals of the Gelato Festival World Masters 2025.

To find out more about the Carpigiani Gelato Challenge 2024 visit: www.carpigiani.co.uk/gelato-challenge-2024.