And the best Confectioner comes from Korea

Chapeau and congratulations on this outstanding achievement! Confectionery Gold and the special ‘Best Showpiece’ prize go to Korea. The beaming winning team of In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang was announced on Thursday, 22 May 2025 at 4 pm at the iba.FORUM. The German team came second and Mexico third. The Jury President's Creative Prize was awarded to Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllari from Albania. All participants received a medal and a certificate.

Participants from five nations demonstrated world-class craftsmanship at The iba UIBC Cup of Confectioners at iba, the world trade fair for bakery, confectionery and snacks. In the show bakeries in Hall 14, the interested trade fair audience could follow how the best confectioners from Albania, Germany, Korea, Mexico and Vietnam produced and finished their sweet works of art. During the two competition days, the jury members Remy Corbet (Norway), Antonio Carlos Henriques (Brazil) and Marios Papadopoulos (Greece), chaired by René Klinkmüller (Germany), inspected and tasted the works.

The expert jury assessed appearance, flavour, variety and creativity. ‘My motto is:  here and today are all winners at iba 2025! But only can be the best. However, all those who have taken on these special challenges will improve as a result and end up with even more skills and expertise. This will advance them in other competitions and move forward their careers,’ emphasised René Klinkmüller, the jury’s chairman.

‘Art’ as the motto for the confectioners

Over the course of two days, the talented confectioners created sweet creations following the competion’s motto ‘Art’. Their tasks: one showpiece made of sugar, brittle and chocolate and a matching glazed cake with at least three unbaked fillings. Further three different types of petit fours, three different pralines and two modelled figures had to be produced and last but not least, ten identical, motto-themed sweet pastries had to be manufactured. The requirement: all ingredients had to be edible and all decorative elements had to be produced on site.

Participants in alphabetical order

Albania               Vasil Terziu and Bledian Ibrahimllari (Creative Award)

Germany             Amelie Natterer and Marleen Oehmke (2nd place)

Korea                  In Seok Kim and Kyung Joo Jang (1st place and Best Showpiece)

Mexico                Mauro Montez Ruiz and Oscar Paniagua Galindo (3rd place)

Vietnam              Le Truc Huynh and Vi le Thi Thanh