Alexander Sjögren practices in front of an audience at GastroNord to prepare for Bocuse d’Or Europe – European Chef Championship

Stockholmsmässan has become a Gold sponsor for the Swedish participation in Bocuse d’Or, the world's most well-known chef competition. At the GastroNord trade fair, which will be held April 26-29, 2016, Sweden's representative for the 2016 competition, Alexander Sjögren, will practice for the first time ever in front of an audience.

Swedish cooking has been very successful on the international scene over the past few years, not to mention at Bocuse d’Or, which is often called the world championships for chefs. Most recently, Tommy Myllymäki won the gold medal in the European finals, and then clinched the bronze medal in the international competition that was held in France in January this year.

Sweden's representative at next year's competition is Alexander Sjögren, who was just named the winner of the Bocuse d´Or Sweden competition. The build-up to and preparations for Bocuse d’Or Europe have already begun and are being spearheaded by Gastronomy Sweden, an association formed by a number of well-known chefs with the joint goal of promoting Swedish gastronomy.

Stockholmsmässan has signed an agreement with Gastronomy Sweden to support the Swedish initiative. As part of this cooperation, Alexander Sjögren will practice for the competition in front of an audience every day of GastroNord in a kitchen that has been built on the premises for this very purpose. This is the first time he will have ever held an open practice.

“It is definitely a positive thing that I will have the chance to practice in front of an audience. Of course it will be a bit nerve-wracking to have eyes following my every move, but that is exactly why it is valuable to get this experience just a few days before the competition in Budapest. That competition is always held in front of an even bigger audience. I think it is also great that this set-up will draw attention to the competition in general,” says Alexander Sjögren, who is now focusing 100% of his time on Bocuse d´Or.

Bocuse d’Or Europe - European Chef Championship will be held in Budapest in May 2016, and the winner will go on to Bocuse d'Or - Chef World Championships, which will be held in Lyon in January 2017. Alexander Sjögren will also participate in the My Kitchen consumer exhibition that is held every year at Stockholmsmässan (this year November 5-8).

GastroNord and Vinordic are northern Europe's largest trade fairs for hotels, restaurants, catering and fast food. The fairs are arranged every second year at Stockholmsmässan.

For more information, please contact:
Daniel Fritzdorf, projektchef, daniel.fritzdorf@stockholmsmassan.se, + 46 70 789 41 96
Lotta Signeul, pressansvarig, lotta.signeul@stockholmsmassan.se, + 46 70 789 43 36
www.gastronord.se, www.gastronomicweek.se, www.gastronomisverige.se