Part of the annual hospitality tradeshow, Foodservice Australia, the Global Pizza and Pasta Challenge will once again take place in Sydney from 22 to 24 May.
The challenge – comprising four categories: seafood, meat, dessert and ‘best interpretation of meat, cheese and pineapple’ – features an internationally recognised panel of judges who will assess each pizza on its originality, balance, creativity and “excitement factor”.
Entries are open now for independent pizza businesses, or franchised business with less than five stores.
“Ten years ago I could see a clear, emerging trend in the pizza industry and we decided to launch a professional competition that would promote and encourage innovation with the world’s favourite food,” said the competition founder, Glenn Austin.
According to IBISWorld consumer preferences are shifting from traditional pizza to more gourmet options and it’s for this reason that the Global Pizza and Pasta Challenge encourages creativity in the sector.
“Regardless of the higher price points, consumers have enthusiastically embraced gourmet and healthier options. Demand for premium Italian-style options has been astounding and has driven profitability over the past five years,” says IBISWorld’s June 2015 Pizza Restaurants and Takeaway Market Report.
The overall winner will receive a trophy and a SKAD Scooter, as well as other prizes from competition sponsors.
Previous winner Bruno Gentile said “Winning the pizza competition generated six months of growth for our business and we couldn’t keep up with the media enquiries. It added 30 percent to our bottom line and even helped to put our town on the map.”
The Global Pizza and Pasta Challenge will be held in the Hordern Pavillion at Foodservice Australia from 22 to 24 May. Entry to the show is restricted to professionals working in the food or hospitality industry.