World Food Championships Announces First-Ever Partnership with USDA at ANUGA 2025

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Posted Jun 12, 2025

World Food Championships Announces First-Ever Partnership with USDA at ANUGA 2025

“Flavor Fusion Culinary Showdown” to Bring U.S. Products to Global Stage with Live Competitions in USA Pavilion

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - (June 13, 2025) - The World Food Championships (WFC) is proud to announce a groundbreaking new partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Berlin, marking the launch of a first-of-its-kind culinary competition activation inside the USA Pavilion at ANUGA 2025; the largest international food and beverage trade show in Europe.

Under the leadership of WFC’s Global Development Director Nikki Jackson, this new partnership is the result of WFC’s expanded global agriculture promotion initiative, designed to support U.S. food brands and agricultural producers in their efforts to gain international visibility and market expansion through the dynamic platform of Food Sport.

From October 4–8, 2025, the Flavor Fusion Culinary Showdown will take place in Hall 10 of the USA Pavilion at ANUGA in Cologne, Germany. Over the course of five days, nine head-to-head live cooking battles, junior chef competitions, and celebrity chef demonstrations will engage global audiences with one goal: to showcase and elevate American food products on a world-class stage.

With a rich history dating back to 1919, ANUGA has evolved into the premier international food fair, with a unique blend of heritage and innovation. WFC’s presence underscores the growing international recognition of Food Sport as a dynamic and competitive culinary platform. Each competition will feature required ingredients sourced directly from U.S. exhibitors, ensuring valuable exposure and creating engaging culinary stories for visitors, buyers, and media alike. All events will be judged live by an expert panel using WFC’s proprietary E.A.T.™ Methodology, designed to fairly assess Execution, Appearance, and Taste.

Key Program Highlights:

First-ever official WFC qualifier held at ANUGA.
Integration of USDA FAS Berlin in strategic event development and promotion.
Programming made possible in part by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), sponsor of the competition kitchen.
Support from Koelnmesse and USA Pavilion Project Manager Veronica Woods.
Featured chefs include Damon Holter (Two-time World Sandwich Champion and owner of Croix Valley Foods) and Oliver Sievers (2019 World BBQ Champion from Germany), among other past WFC champions and competitors.

“This partnership with USDA FAS represents a monumental milestone for our organization and for U.S. food exporters,” said Michael Eaton, CEO of the World Food Championships. “By bringing the excitement of Food Sport to ANUGA through the Flavor Fusion Culinary Showdown, we’re not only elevating the visibility of U.S. food products, but also introducing a new, dynamic model for international trade engagement.”

As an official qualifying event of the World Food Championships, the Flavor Fusion Culinary Showdown will send winners to the 2026 WFC Main Event in the United States, giving chefs the opportunity to compete on the global Food Sport stage.

For more information about how to get involved with the Flavor Fusion Culinary Showdown at ANUGA, or other WFC Global Development initiatives; contact Nikki Jackson, Global Development Director for the World Food Championships (nikki@worldfoodchampionships.com).

Competitors, partners, and fans of Food Sport can stay up to date on all things related to the World Food Championships by visiting worldfoodchampionships.com or follow World Food Championships on Facebook and Instagram (@WorldFoodChampionships), Twitter (X) (@WorldFoodChamp), and LinkedIn (@WorldFoodChampionshipsHoldings).

About World Food Championships
The World Food Championships (WFC) is the premier food sport competition globally. This multi-day, live culinary event showcases some of the world's best cooks competing for food, fame, and fortune across multiple categories. Each year, thousands of teams vie for a coveted Golden Ticket at official qualifiers to earn their spot at WFC. Since its debut in 2012, the event has attracted participants from nearly 40 countries and every state in the U.S. The 2025 World Food Championships will take place October 16-19 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. For more information, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.

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World Food Championships Announces First-Ever Partnership with USDA at ANUGA 2025

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