Live at iba 2025: Competition for confectionery gold

For two days top notch confectionery art can be observed at The iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners. The international competition between confectioners starts in exhibition hall 14 on 21 May. At iba, the leading world trade fair for the baking and confectionery industry representives of five nations will face this special challenge in glass show bakeries: the best confectioners from Albania, Germany, Korea, Mexico and Vietnam. The competition for the confectioners‘ gold medal is organised jointly by the German Bakers‘ Confederation and the German Association of Confectioners.

‘Art’ as a competition topic

Following the motto ‘Art’, these talented confectioners will produce sweet creations during the two day competition: a showpiece, a glazed cake, three different types of petit fours, chocolates, modelled figures and themed pastries. All ingredients must be edible and all decorations must be made on site. The German contestants in The iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners are Amelie Natterer from Berlin and Marleen Oehmke from Berchtesgaden.

International jury

The jury is put together very internationally, its members are: Remy Corbet (Norway), Antonio Carlos Henriques (Brazil), Marios Papadopoulos (Greece) and chairman René Klinkmüller (Germany). ‘I expect to see a lot of creativity and precision in the execution from the participants. Flavour plays a very important role for me and appearance definitely ought not be taking precedence over taste, even if the competition’s motto is the art of confectionery. Each country should play to its strengths and incorporate a piece of their home country on the display table, ’ emphasises jury chairman René Klinkmüller.

Attending the competition live

Excitement is guaranteed, as the trade fair visitors can watch the sweet works of art being created live from 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, 21 and 22 May respectively. Petit fours and pastries will already be judged on Wednesday at 10 a.m., cakes and chocolates later on at 1 p.m. Figures and showpieces will be judged at 3 pm.

The next day, Thursday May 22 will be the second round of the presentations at 1 p.m. and at 3 p.m in the iba.FORUM. Concluding the competition, at 4 p.m., the winners will be chosen at the award ceremony in the iba.FORUM. The special prize ‘Best Showpiece’ and the jury president's creative prize will also be awarded.

Participants in alphabetical order
Albania: Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllar
Germany: Amelie Natterer und Marleen Oehmke
Korea: In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang
Mexico: Gustavo Adolfo Fragoso and Oscar Paniagua Galindo  
Vietnam: Le Truc Huynh and Vi le Thi Thanh