The French are named best bakers in the world

Published: February 13, 2024 by Gill Harris 4417

France has risen to victory in the world bakery championships, breaking a disappointingly long 16-year spell during which their efforts fell repeatedly flat.

The French last won the biennial Coupe du monde de la boulangerie in 2008 and so it’s little surprise that the 2024 winning team – made up of bakers Franck Fortier, Fabien Nolay and Xavier Sacriste – was over the moon. Their triumphant coach, Grégoire Bardet, said: “We can be proud of this victory.”

The competition, held at Porte de Versailles as part of the Europain trade fair, saw South Korea and Japan take second and third place. The winners were chosen by a jury of industry experts, who valiantly munched their way through 150 types of bread in order to reach their conclusions.

Created in 1992 by Meilleur Ouvrier de France Boulangerie Christian Vabret, the competition brings together the best bakery teams in the world to compete in four rounds: breads and baguettes, sweet pastries, gourmet breadmaking and artistic creations.