Toque d’Or 2020 winners announced

Nestlé Professional recently announced the winners of Toque d’Or 2020 in a live virtual awards ceremony. Hosted on YouTube, the awards ceremony was watched by industry insiders, media and supporters of the competition. The winners are Katherine Altham from Kendal College (Back of house – student); Alex Dick from City of Glasgow College (Front of house – student); Lily Stock from Boodle’s (Back of house – apprentice); and Chelsie Robinson from The Cross Keys, Stow (Front of house – apprentice).

2020 has been a landmark year for Toque d’Or, with the competition having to change format due to the challenges of COVID-19. The competition also increased its digital elements, with digital entries, Instagram-led challenges and virtual finals and awards, a first in its 32-year history.
The finale of the competition saw front- and back-of-house finalists take part in a series of digital challenges in August, aimed at helping competitors develop their own click and collect business model. The challenges consisted of a mix of practical, service-based and business-focused tasks, concentrating on crucial areas such as social media promotion, business management and sustainable food and drink.

Katya Simmons, managing director of Nestlé Professional UK&I, said: “This is a transformative moment for the winners. Time and again we’ve seen this competition open doors to new and exciting opportunities within the industry. The winners’ inspired business plans demonstrated tremendous creativity.

“Everyone who took part this year should be really proud of themselves for persevering through incredibly challenging circumstances. In addition to honing their skills and adding value to their CVs, they all brought positivity and celebration to the hospitality industry at a time when it was very much needed.”