Nestlé Professional reveals shortlist for 2026 Toque d’Or

Nestlé Professional has announced the shortlist of students competing in the 2026 Toque d’Or National Heats.

 

Some 48 of the UK’s talented back of house (BOH) and front of house (FOH) staff will participate in four days of challenges, taking place at the Grand Cookery School in York between 9 and 12 March.

 

Almost 400 students from 43 colleges across the UK registered for the 2026 iteration of the competition, which required BOH and FOH entrants to create their own restaurant-grade dish or iced coffee.

 

BOH dishes featured at least one of the provided Maggi products – Coconut Milk Powder, Rich & Rustic Tomato Sauce and Demi-Glace Sauce – while FOH creations consisted of Nescafé Espresso Concentrate as the base of the drink.

 

Chef Kate Austen will lead the panel of BOH judges, supported by last year’s BOH finalist Olivia Cartlidge, while hospitality professional Andy Downton will head up the FOH judging team alongside last year’s FOH winner Katie Blundell.

 

Other judging panellists include Nestlé Professional development chef Paul Hawkins, channel manager for branded desserts ingredients James Candy, coffee training specialist Jo Walsh, coffee trainer Emilia Flajszer and Country Style Foods’ senior development chef Chris Brown. 

 

Lorenzo Viganò, who joined Nestlé Professional UK&I as managing director in January, said: “It’s a real privilege to support the next generation of hospitality talent through Toque d’Or. The creativity and dedication of the students is remarkable – not only are they experimenting with new flavours and techniques, but they’re also celebrating cultural diversity and pushing the boundaries of innovation – all incredibly relevant themes in today’s hospitality industry. 

 

“Nurturing young talent is at the heart of everything we do here at Nestlé Professional. We’re committed to supporting the next generation by helping them gain the skills, confidence and awareness they need to succeed in our vibrant and dynamic industry. I’m excited in my new role to see how their journeys unfold over the course of the competition, which promises to be another thrilling showcase of talent, creativity, and innovation.” 

 

The Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or competition was launched for the first time in 1989 with the aim of inspiring and training college students in the foodservice industries.

 

Who has made it onto the 2026 Toque d’Or shortlist?

 

Front of House

 

James Drynan, Ayrshire College

John Paul Pinnock, Ayrshire College

Declan Sloan, Ayrshire College

Andrew Sorely, Ayrshire College

Amelia Osborne, Barnsley College

Tanith Hill, Cheshire College South and West

Amelia Jenkins, Cheshire South and West College

Brittany Juma, Cheshire South and West College

Clara Rabadan-Escobar, Cheshire South and West College

Kiera Temple, East Durham College

Cameron Maddock, Hughbaird College

Kieran Field, Isle of Wight College

Joshua Trott, Loughborough College

Jake Hobday, North Hertfordshire College

Skye Casserly, North Hertfordshire College

Katie Knott, North Hertfordshire College

Jessica Doughty, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

Abi Wraxton, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College

Abigail Higgins, Tameside College

Taya Allen, UHI Perth

Mathilda Spooner, UHI Perth

Cameron Symon, UHI Perth

Cody Wragg, West Nottinghamshire College

Charlotte Smithson, York College

 

Back of House

 

Emma McGuire, Ayrshire College

Greg Cooper, Ayrshire College

Ryan Brown, Ayrshire College

Daisy Knight, Capital City College Group

Joshua Cobb, Cheshire College South and West

Colleen Ball, Chesterfield College

Fred Mirabelles, Chesterfield College

Destiny Payne-Wright, Chesterfield College

Jamie Robb, City of Glasgow College

Nathan Derek, Short City of Glasgow College

Morgan Croan, East Durham College

Cameron Savvides, East Riding College

Joe Fowler, Isle of Wight College

Lewis McLeman, Loughborough College

Felix Barratt-Jones, Loughborough College

Grace Whittle, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

Viacheslav Marynychenko, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

Leogh Wood, Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group

Darius Roberts, North Hertfordshire College

Thomas Gleave, Scarborough TEC

Daniel Horsley, University College Birmingham

Ishaan  Rohra, University College Birmingham

Ioan Duffield, University College Birmingham

Estoni Joy Pillo, University of Highlands and Islands