The competitions of Restaurangakademien (the Restaurant Academy) attracts young talent.

During GastroNord, the Restaurant Academy will be in the competition area and among other things arrange Bocuse d’Or Sweden Commis Award for young female chef students.

At GastroNord, there will be innovations and networking but there will also be competitions of different kinds. The Restaurant Academy sponsors Bocuse d’Or Sweden Commis Award, a competition to encourage and inspire young female chefs to develop in the industry, both nationally and internationally, through competing.

– The Restaurant Academy is a large part of GastroNord, we have a close collaboration and are very proud to be able to present this competition during the fair. We want to showcase all the aspects of being a chef and present different possibilities in the restaurant industry for youngsters, and international competitions are a part of that, says Annika Linderoth, Project Manager at GastroNord.

Since 1985, the Restaurant Academy has been a meeting place for knowledge in gastronomy, through courses and training for both beginners and professionals. They constantly work to supply the industry with competent young talents.

The possibilities of the restaurant industry
The shortage of staff in the restaurant industry can be derived from several factors and despite the negative trend we have seen with fewer applications for secondary courses of a vocational nature, Jesper Johansson insists that the interest in gastronomy is still high in society.

– It is up to us in the field to present possibilities for young people, should they choose this career path. Due to the shortage of staff, there are great possibilities to start your career directly after relevant training, says Jesper Johansson, CEO at Restaurangakademien, but the also wants to make the case for the integration opportunities in the restaurant industry.

– The restaurant industry is global and it is common for people with different backgrounds to be working in the same restaurant. I think that the industry is welcoming and important as a work place to facilitate integration in society. The language of gastronomy is international, which facilitates diversity, says Jesper Johansson.

The Restaurant Academy has an international gastronomy network and certifies the students of sommelier trainings with WSET (Wine & Spirit Educational Trust), which increases the opportunities for them to work abroad.

GastroNord is open to all visitors at Stockholmsmässan, April 5-7, 2022.