For bakers around the world, iba is just as popular as the Champions League in the sports world. Approximately 70,000 trade visitors from all continents are expected at the world’s leading trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks that will take place from Sept. 12-17 at the Fairground Messe München, Munich. Among them will be the world’s best bakers who will be competing for the gold medal in the iba-UIBC-CUP Baker competition.
Peru, France, The Netherlands, the United States, China, Hungary, Spain, Croatia, Russia, Denmark, Japan and Germany — these are the participating countries in this year’s iba-UIBC-CUP Baker. In this international championship, bakers from 12 nations compete against each other in teams of two. It is held every three years at the iba and regarded as a professional accolade by bakers around the world.
The competition will take place from Sept. 12-14. Four teams per day will compete in the glass bakeries in Hall B3. The theme of this year’s Cup is Circus, and each participant will have the opportunity to offer their interpretation of the theme. Among others, bakers have to prepare different types of bread, small pastries, party pastries and Danish pastries as well as a baked showpiece. In addition to the baked goods, the presentation and show will be evaluated. At the end, the best bakers will be given a chance to delight the audience with their skills.
All four bakeries have similar facilities. Ovens, equipment, machinery as well as the raw materials to be used will be identical. The participants have the freedom to choose their recipes, designs and preparation methods. Visitors can marvel at the results at the stand of the German Baker’s Confederation in Hall B3. An international jury consisting of Günther Koerffer, Sweden; Erwin Heftberger, Austria; Werner Hürlimann, Switzerland; Franz Schuster, Italy; and Wolfgang Schäfer, Germany will evaluate the competitors’ pieces. The overall winner will be honored on the end of the third day, Monday, Sept. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the iba forum in Hall B3.
