SIGEP is a trade event aimed at the Artisan Baking Industry in Europe and features the competition where 8 teams from different countries around the world compete in various bread categories for championship honours.

The first competition was held in January 2007 and victory went to Italy, against stiff competition from France, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, Israel, Germany & Belgium.

For the second competition in 2008 the organisers of the event the "Club Arti E Mestieri" through BAKERY AUSTRALIA have invited an Australian team to compete.

To BAKERY AUSTRALIA, having recently conducted the inaugural Australian Artisan Baking Cup which had the goal of developing interest to eventually send an Australian team to compete overseas, this was fantastic news.

The Australian team has been selected from the competitors at the Australian Artisan Baking Cup and are:

The theme of the 2008 competition is "Tastes and Flavours of the World"

• Traditional Bread, characteristic of the teams own country;

• Innovation bread;

• Cake (dry or risen, optional);

• Artwork (a national monument);

This decorative category involves creating a visually attractive showpiece made entirely of edible ingredients representing the theme chosen. This art form is practiced in European competitions and is a sophisticated and challenging part of the competition. Competitors must create a sculpture that fits within approx 1 cubic metre.

• Bakery shop-window display

A fantastic component of the 2008 competition will be that there will be "online broadcasting" of the competition so that friends, family and colleagues in Australia will be able to view what is happening during the competition via the organisers website www.clubartiemestieri.it

The team is a result of efforts to develop and improve the quality of bread baking in Australia and the SIGEP Bread Cup will be an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that Australian bakers are of a standards equal to anywhere in the world.

For further information contact,
David Smith,
Events Manager for
BAKERY AUSTRALIA
Ph.61 3 9773 4266
Fax. 61 3 9773 4285
Email. bakeryaust@iprimus.com.au