Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2025 recognises Sri Lanka’s top culinary talent

Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Junior Competition – Winners

From left: Nestlé Lanka Managing Director Bernie Stefan, Chefs Guild of Lanka Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis, Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association President Patrick Pereira, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives Dr. Siri Walt, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region Nestlé Professional Regional Business Head Jeroen Pluijmers, First Runners-Up – Sadini Kaveesha and Imasha Amandhi (SLITHM - Koggala), Grand Winners - Chathura Dilshan and K.A.D. Fernando (SLITHM - Colombo), Second Runners-Up – Senuka Perera and Michael Gurusinghe (William Angliss Institute), Nestlé S.A. Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit Reinhold Jakobi, Nestlé Lanka Nestlé Professional Assistant Director Maduranga Perera, and Nestlé South Asia Region Nestlé Professional Director Saurabh Makhija

Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition – Professional Winners

From left: Nestlé Lanka Managing Director Bernie Stefan, , Chefs Guild of Lanka Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis, Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association President Patrick Pereira, Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives Dr. Siri Walt, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region Nestlé Professional Regional Business Head Jeroen Pluijmers, Second Runners-Up – Kalani Samadhi and Iresh Siriwardana (Cinnamon Grand Colombo), Grand Winners – Ramindu Dilshan and Chalaka Janith (Araliya Beach Resort & Spa Unawatuna), First Runners-Up – Kavindu Anuhas and Chanaka Janith (Sigiriya Forest Edge), Nestlé S.A. Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit Reinhold Jakobi, Nestlé Professional, Nestlé Lanka Assistant Director Maduranga Perera, and Nestlé South Asia Region Nestlé Professional Director Saurabh Makhija 

Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka, in partnership with the Chefs Guild of Lanka, has relaunched the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition this year – an island wide culinary competition focused on developing up-and-coming culinary talent in the hospitality industry.

Nestlé Professional also collaborated with the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association and Chefs Guild of Lanka to launch the Junior Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition for the very first time – providing culinary students in the hospitality industry with a platform to showcase their talents and skills, while fostering the next generation of culinary experts. 

The regional rounds, held across all nine provinces of the country, brought together 18 finalists from both the Professional category and the newly introduced Junior category, to compete in the Grand Finale at the Culinary Art Food Expo.

The winners of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2025 were awarded at an event held on 15 June at Cinnamon Grand Colombo, with the participation of distinguished guests – Chief Guest, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives Dr. Siri Walt, Nestlé S.A. Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit Reinhold Jakobi, Nestlé Asia, Oceania and Africa Region Nestlé Professional Regional Business Head Jeroen Pluijmers, Director – Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia Region Saurabh Makhija, Chefs Guild of Lanka Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis and Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association President Patrick Pereira.

Nestlé Lanka Managing Director Bernie Stefan commented, “The hospitality industry plays a vital role in supporting the transition from stability to growth in the Sri Lankan economy. Nestlé Lanka is honoured to play a part in uplifting the industry through the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition. This initiative also embodies our Nestlé Needs YOUth initiative, which is dedicated towards empowering and upskilling the youth to excel in their field of expertise and contribute to the community.” 

Ambassador of Switzerland to Sri Lanka and Maldives Dr. Siri Walt mentioned, “I congratulate Nestlé Professional, the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association on this wonderful initiative to promote culinary talent. Tourism and the hospitality sector are very important for Sri Lanka and Switzerland. I am therefore very pleased that Nestlé Professional is engaged in uplifting the hospitality industry in Sri Lanka.”

Nestlé S.A. Head of Nestlé Professional Strategic Business Unit Reinhold Jakobi said, “I am pleased to celebrate Sri Lanka’s vibrant hospitality industry through the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Competition 2025, especially as we commemorate the 60th anniversary of this global initiative. Through Nestlé Professional, we aim to open the treasure trove of knowledge Nestlé has cultivated through decades of research and development along with our diverse product portfolio, supporting the hospitality industry to grow, innovate and thrive.”

Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka Assistant Director Maduranga Perera commented, “Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka has always been at the forefront in the culinary development of the country. We are honoured to partner with the Chefs Guild of Lanka and the Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association to host the Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat and Nestlé Golden Chef’s Hat Junior Competitions in 2025. This collaboration reflects our continued commitment to uplifting Sri Lanka’s culinary industry and supporting the next generation of chefs.”

Chefs Guild of Lanka Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis reflected, “We’re proud to have partnered with Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka on this inspiring initiative - creating a platform where the culinary talent in Sri Lanka’s hospitality industry can truly thrive. It’s a celebration of skill, passion, and potential, giving chefs the opportunity to shine on a grander stage and elevate their craft to new heights.”

Sri Lanka Hospitality Graduates Association President Patrick Pereira said, “We’re absolutely delighted to have collaborated with Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka to launch the Junior category of the Nestlé Golden Chef’s  Hat Competition 2025. This exciting new addition opens the doors for aspiring young culinary talent from hotel schools across the country to shine on a prestigious platform - showcasing their creativity, passion, and exceptional skills to a wider audience.”

Driven by its purpose of ‘unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come’, Nestlé has nourished generations of Sri Lankan families with high quality food and beverages from early childhood to old age. As the B2B arm of Nestlé Lanka, Nestlé Professional Sri Lanka has always been at the forefront of the development of Sri Lanka’s culinary industry and will continue its efforts by working together with food service professionals to offer tailored solutions that address unique business challenges and opportunities to grow and succeed.