The celebrations began at the House of Lords on 6th February during the competition’s launch event where current Chef of the Year Samuel Sewell of Wellington Vale Care Home joined previous winners and guests.
Care chefs working across the sector, from residential homes to community services such as meals on wheels, are invited to enter and showcase their specific skills and knowledge.
With one million people over the age of 65 malnourished, the NACC says chefs catering for people in care homes and in the community have a duty of care to ensure the meals they produce are nutritionally beneficial and meet specific dietary requirements. The meals must also be appetising, appealing and delicious.
Entrants must create a delicious and nutritionally balanced two-course menu, main and dessert, suitable for service users in a care setting. The combined food cost for both courses is also to be no more than £4.50 per head based on three portions, reflecting the restricted budgets care chefs often have to maximise.
The competition raises the profile of the care catering sector and champions the dedication, flair and skillset required of those working within it to continually raise standards. To mark the anniversary, a new website dedicated to the Care Chef of the Year competition has been launched.
Neel Radia, national chair of the NACC, said: “The NACC Care Chef of the Year competition, has become a well-respected, established annual event, which showcases the immense skills and creativity by chefs across the care industry.
“For the NACC Care Chef competition to reach the milestone of 25 years is testament to the value the competition is held at across the industry. We encourage all chefs working across the Care Sector to enter this year’s milestone 25-year competition.”
Entries will be welcomed from mid-February, with the regional heats taking place in June and July. This year will see the introduction of a new online entry platform, streamlining the experience for chefs and judges.
Steve Munkley, lead judge for the competition, added: “To have maintained a competition over so many years is a testament to the association and what it stands for. Since I have been involved with the competition, I have seen a growing interest in the number of entries and certainly the standards delivered in the regional heats have been very encouraging. This sector certainly has some talented chefs.”
Unilever Food Solutions will be the headline sponsors along with event sponsor the Worshipful Company of Cooks. New sponsors for 2025 include crockery sponsor Foodcare Systems, small equipment sponsor Metcalfe Catering Equipment, heavy equipment sponsor Rational UK and hygiene sponsors Blueleaf Care.
For more information on the NACC Care Chef of the Year 2025 competition and to register your interest in entering, visit here.