IBIE 2025 Crowns Winners of Americas Selection for World Cup of Baking

Team Canada and Team USA earn top honors; will represent the Americas at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie in Paris

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 17, 2025) — After an intense two-day competition at the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), Team Canada and Team USA have been crowned winners of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie Americas Selection. The two teams now earn the honor of representing the Americas at the world championship in Paris, France.

Held at IBIE — the largest grain-based food industry event in the Western Hemisphere — the competition brought together leading professional baking teams from Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Mexico and the USA to compete in three categories: Bakery, Viennoiserie, and Artistic Bread Showpiece.

“Reaching the podium and winning at the Americas Selection in Vegas was a testament to pushing past exhaustion and doubt. This victory proves that hard work, passion, and self-belief can take you further than you ever imagined,” said Jason (Zhenkun) Wang of Team Canada.

Regarded internationally as the “World Cup of Baking,” the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie is one of the most esteemed competitions in the industry. By hosting the Americas Selection, IBIE underscores its role as a hub where baking professionals connect, compete, and showcase talent that influences the industry worldwide.

Team USA Coach William Leaman, commented, “These events are a true emotional journey for the bakers, who openly share the results of their hard work and preparation. It is inspiring to see how each team responds to the challenges, especially after dedicating so much time and passion to their craft.”

The competition unfolded over two days during IBIE 2025, with teams demonstrating precision, creativity, and technical mastery across multiple disciplines. Judges evaluated performance on artistry, taste, and execution, ultimately determining the two winning teams who now continue on to Paris.

“The Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie represents the elite of the baking world,” said Romain Dufour of the Académie Culinaire de France (USA & Canada Delegation), organizers of the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie – Americas Selection. “This competition drives global trends, fostering new techniques for bakers worldwide. It’s a unique opportunity to witness five teams competing in the Americas Selection to represent their countries in the most prestigious baking competition.”

For more information about IBIE 2025 and the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie Americas Selection, visit bakingexpo.com.

ABOUT IBIE

The International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE) is recognized worldwide as the grain-based food industry’s largest, most comprehensive trade event in the Western Hemisphere. A “working show” where millions of dollars of business is conducted daily, IBIE brings the entire professional baking community together, offering the complete range of equipment, supply, and ingredient solutions and showcasing the newest baking technology—all under one roof. IBIE is owned by the American Bakers Association (ABA) and the Bakery Equipment Manufacturers and Allieds (BEMA), with support from the Retail Bakers of America (RBA). All proceeds from this non-profit event are invested back into the industry. 