SPONSORED STORY: Creed Foodservice proudly launches its third annual Care Chef of the Year Competition, celebrating the creativity, compassion, and culinary skill that defines food in the care sector, with recognition of the extraordinary role professional chefs in this industry play.
In care homes across the UK, mealtimes are more than a nutritional necessity - they are an essential part of daily life, offering structure, social connection, and sensory enjoyment. Behind every thoughtfully prepared meal is a chef who not only cooks, but truly cares.
Now open for entries, Creed’s annual competition invites chefs working in the care industry to step into the spotlight and share their passion for providing residents with meals that comfort, engage, and inspire.
The 2025 Challenge: A Themed Day in Care
This year’s brief focuses on themed dining, encouraging chefs to design a two-course meal that transforms a regular day into something extraordinary. Chefs are asked to select a theme - a country, cultural celebration or journey - and create:
- A main course reflecting the chosen theme
- A second course, which could be a canapé, starter, dessert or drink
The key is to deliver an immersive experience through food, while still meeting the dietary, textural, and nutritional needs of the care environment. Chefs are also encouraged to think beyond the plate, incorporating sensory touches like storytelling, music, décor, or memory cues that help residents connect with the theme.
Shining a Light on Care Catering
Andy Williams, National Sales Manager at Creed Foodservice, describes the competition as a platform to honour the often-unsung chefs who are central to resident wellbeing.
“We are pleased to be running the Creed Care Chef of the Year competition for the third year. It has been great to watch this competition flourish over the past few years, and we continue to strive to make this year the best yet! We aim to celebrate the exceptional talent and skills of chefs in the care sector through this competition.”
These are chefs who work with dietary needs, within tight budgets, staffing challenges and regulatory constraints, yet still manage to craft dishes that delight residents and bring moments of joy. The competition doesn’t just celebrate individual skill, it uplifts the whole sector.
Judged by Experts Who Understand the Sector
Online entries will be evaluated by a panel of respected experts who work closely within the care sector. These include Rob Owen, Executive Business Development Chef at Creed Foodservice, who brings over 15 years of experience in fine dining and care-focused menu development, and Preston Walker and James Ball who are Co-Founders of OHK – a specialist dysphagia chef training organisation. Their collective insight will be used to evaluate technical skill, creativity, resident impact, and sector relevance.
How to Enter – And What to Expect
Entry is free and open to all chefs working in care homes. To apply, chefs must submit their themed menu via Creed’s competition webpage, including:
- Recipes for both courses
- A short explanation of the inspiration behind the theme
- Methodology and process
- Up to eight supporting images
Entries must be submitted by 5:00pm on Monday 25th August 2025. The top six entries will be shortlisted by the judges and invited to a live final at Rugby College on Wednesday 29th October, where the chefs will recreate their dishes for the judging panel, as well as create a table display to fit the theme of the meal.
The following day Creed’s Care Supplier Showcase is being held at the same venue where there will be a chance for the finalists to network with suppliers and fellow professionals, as well as attend the various talks and seminars on offer.
This Is Your Moment to Shine
This is more than a competition, it's a platform for professional growth, innovation, and sector-wide recognition. Contestants will gain exposure across Creed’s and the care industry’s channels, with a knife forging experience, champagne and a coveted trophy awarded to the overall winner, along with personalised chef whites gifted to all finalists.
Last year the 2024 Care Chef of the Year was awarded to Andrew Taylor from Adept Care for his standout dish, Tuscan Chicken with Roasted Roots and Pomme Mousseline. Andrew said of the competition: “What a wonderful surprise and honour it was to win, what really impressed me was the imaginative techniques and the cross section of cuisines used amongst the finalists - I certainly picked up a couple of new tricks - and that really is the point. Winning the award has really helped expand my creativity in the kitchen too.”
Whether you’re a seasoned care chef, or someone just beginning to innovate in the sector, the Creed Care Chef of the Year Competition 2025 is your opportunity to gain recognition for the vital work you do every day.
So, if you have a dish that tells a story, a theme that brings smiles to residents’ faces, or simply a love of cooking in care, this is your time!
Think you’ve got what it takes? Enter today by visiting: https://about.creedfoodservice.co.uk/care-chef-of-the-year-competition-2025/
