Participation | Pizzamestari

Competition rules

1. Organizers

The competition is organized by Arla Oy and Food Camp Finland Oy.

2. Eligibility

The competition is open to all professional chefs and head chefs aged 18 and above.
The preliminary jury will select the semifinalists anonymously based on the submitted recipes and photos. Eight (8) contestants will advance to the semifinal, and four (4) will move on to the final.

3. Competition Timeline

Applications will be accepted from September 1, 2025, to January 15, 2026.
The deadline for applications is January 15, 2026, at 24:00.

The theme for the competition entries will be “Taste Memories from Childhood.”

Each participant will be required to include a brief story or background narrative about their entry.

Here is the application form. In addition to the application form, the competitor must send a completed recipe form, a brief story or background narrative about your entryrecipe and a photo of the finished pizza to pizzamestari@foodcampfinland.fi

Late submissions will not be accepted.
Applicants are solely responsible for ensuring their entries arrive before the deadline.

4. Semifinal and Final

Semifinal

The semifinal will take place at the Gastro Fair on the morning of March 11, 2026.
Eight semifinalists will each prepare two different pizzas under the jury’s supervision:

Signature Pizza: The original recipe submitted for the competition.
Partner Pizza: A recipe created using ingredients provided by the competition’s partners.

Competitors must bring their own pizza dough. Partner-provided Myllärin pizza flour must be used for at least the Partner Pizza. Two copies of each pizza must be prepared (four pizzas total).

All ingredients for the Signature Pizza may be pre-chopped, but all sauces must be prepared on-site.
Contestants will have 30 minutes in total to complete all pizzas.

Final

The final will be held on March 11, 2026, after the semifinal.
The top four semifinalists will advance to the final, where they will prepare two pizzas:

Innovation Pizza: Showcasing creativity in structure, shape, and/or presentation.
Freestyle Pizza: A completely improvised creation.

Both pizzas must be prepared in two copies using either the Mystery Basket or Partner Basket ingredients.

5. Jury

The head judge of the competition is Jason Calcutt, Global Culinary Lead, Mozzarella & Bakery

6. Prizes

1st Prize: €4,000 cash
All semifinalists will receive a diploma for display in their restaurant.
The top three finalists will receive individual diplomas.
Special prizes will also be awarded by competition partners.

7. Liability

The organizers accept no responsibility for any injury, damage, or loss arising from participation in the competition, claiming the prize, or using the prize.
The organizers’ liability to the winner will never exceed the value of the prize.
By claiming the prize, the winner releases the organizers and partners from any and all liability related to the prize.

8. Taxes and Expenses

The organizers are not responsible for any travel or accommodation expenses incurred by participants.
Winners are responsible for any taxes arising from their prize.

9. Personal Data & Publicity Rights

Participants’ personal data will be processed in accordance with data protection legislation.
By entering the competition, participants grant the organizers and partners the right to use their name, image, statements, recipes, and photos for competition-related publicity across all media without separate consent or compensation.

10. Rule Changes

The organizers reserve the right to amend these rules at any time.

More information

Food Camp Finland Ltd.

Riikka Kannas
riikka.kannas@foodcampfinland.fi