Meet the Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or® 2026 Champions
We’re proud to present the winners of the 38th-anniversary edition of Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or. Following an exhilarating Grand Finals Week, which saw our final 12 go head-to-head in a series of intense challenges, we have crowned our two deserving champions.
The winners of the 2026 Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or are:
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Back of House (BOH): Nathan Derek Short from City of Glasgow College
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Front of House (FOH): Declan Sloan from Ayrshire College
Nathan Derek Short said:
“I didn’t expect it at all – I’m just incredibly happy to have won. Cooking is something I’m really passionate about, and this experience has given me the chance to explore different styles of cheffing and food cultures – there’s so much out there to learn. Hospitality means everything to me, and I chose this career to see how far I could go. I’d like to thank my lecturers, my friends and everyone who has supported and taught me along the way. This is such an amazing moment.”
Declan Sloan said:
“Winning FOH means a huge amount to me. From the Heats through to the Finals, the whole experience has been incredible and has given me a really clear sense of the path I want to take in hospitality. I always hoped for the best, but to come away with the win is something I’m really proud of. It’s been an amazing journey and one I’ll never forget.”
The duo will embark on a culinary trip across Scandinavia this July. They will visit Denmark, Sweden and Norway, some of the world’s most forward‑thinking food destinations, while exploring innovative hospitality concepts, sustainable gastronomy and regional culinary traditions. Their colleges will receive an additional £1,000 from the Savoy Educational Trust.
Lorenzo Viganò, managing director of Nestlé Professional UK&I said:
“Toque d’Or is about far more than competition. It’s about giving young people the confidence, experience and industry insight to thrive in hospitality careers.
“Throughout Grand Finals Week, this year’s competitors showed remarkable professionalism, creativity and determination, while embracing the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of our industry.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see how much the finalists grow over the course of the competition, and we’re proud to work alongside our partners to help nurture the next generation of hospitality talent. Congratulations to all this year’s finalists and, of course, to our two outstanding winners.”
Learn more about the Toque d'Or competition
Toque d’Or 2026 Finalists Revealed
We’re excited to reveal this year’s Toque d’Or finalists, chosen after an action‑packed Heats round where 48 talented students went head‑to‑head in a series of demanding challenges over two days at The Grand Cookery School in York.
2025 Toque d'Or Winners Urge Industry to Nurture Young Hospitality Talent
The 2025 Toque d’Or winners have urged operators to nurture young talent and create better career opportunities in hospitality, after returning from their culinary trip prize to Italy.
Exclusive Hangout: Meet the Toque d’Or 2026 Team and Unlock Competition Insights
We proudly hosted an exclusive online Hangout for all registered students and lecturers, designed to guide them through this year’s Toque d’Or entry challenge and set them up for success.
