Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2026 Launches to Boost Hospitality Talent 📈

Nestlé Professional, the B2B arm of Nestlé Lanka, has signed an MoU with the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association to launch the 2026 edition of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat and Junior Golden Chef’s Hat competitions. • Competition Scope & Reach The islandwide initiative focuses on identifying and nurturing emerging culinary talent. The professional category will feature 8 regional competitions across Sri Lanka, providing a national platform for seasoned chefs to benchmark their skills against global standards. • Youth & Education Focus The Junior Competition targets students in the hospitality sector, with regional rounds held at prominent hotel schools. This aligns with the "Nestlé Needs YOUth" initiative, aiming to provide practical exposure and structured learning to bridge the gap between education and industry. • Sector Significance Hospitality & Tourism: Recognised as a critical driver for Sri Lanka's economic transition from stability to growth. Employment: The competition aims to upskill the next generation of chefs, enhancing the quality of the local workforce to meet evolving global demands in the foodservice ecosystem. Based on official launch data as of February 26, 2026.