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 and 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 ingre-dients in the UK are spear-heading the search to find bakers from the UK. The 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, including name, age, contact details and category should be sent to entries@louislesaffrecupuk2010.co.uk. The closing date for entries is Friday 26 February 2010. Details at www.louislesaffrecupuk2010.co.uk