The search is on to find the nation’s best bakers to represent the UK in the Louis Lesaffre Cup. The ‘world cup’ of baking pits teams of three bakers, from around 40 countries across all five continents, against each other in a series of national and international heats.

Each baker in the UK team will be required to demonstrate one of the three categories: bread-making, Viennese pastries, or an artistic piece made from dough - all of which should aim to sum up the spirit of the UK.

The heats run between 2009 and 2012, and judging for the UK team, will take place at the Baking Industry Exhibition at the NEC from 21-24 March 2010.

Lesaffre’s UK subsidiaries BFP Wholesale and DCL Yeast, along with Fermex - which distributes Lesaffre’s bread ingredients in the UK - are spearheading the search to find bakers from the UK.

“Our aim is to find the people who will make up ‘team UK’ – seriously talented bakers who are good enough to represent the United Kingdom at the Cup’s Western European heat in Paris in May 2011, and in further rounds if successful,” said BFP Wholesale’s MD Nick Harris.

“We’ll be looking not only for superb skills and results, but a team spirit,” added Michael Abraham, DCL Yeast’s sales manager.

The UK national heat is free to enter and is open to anyone over 18 who lives in the UK and is actively involved in baking. Each entrant must choose one of the three categories only for their entry.

Entries must be submitted by email, with name, age, contact details and the category for entry, to entries@louislesaffrecupuk2010.co.uk.

The closing date for entries is Friday 26th February 2010. Visit www.louislesaffrecupuk2010.co.uk for more details.