Twelve of the UK’s leading care catering professionals have secured places in the final of the National Association of Care Catering (NACC) Care Chef of the Year 2026 competition following a series of closely contested regional heats.
The annual competition, which celebrates excellence in care catering, saw chefs from across England compete in semi-finals held in the South, Midlands and North. Contestants were challenged to prepare a nutritionally balanced two-course menu suitable for care settings within 90 minutes, while working to a food budget of no more than £4.50 per resident.
Alongside culinary creativity, judges assessed competitors on nutritional understanding, presentation, menu balance, food waste management and hygiene, highlighting the broad range of skills required by chefs working in the care sector.
The finalists represent a wide range of care providers, including Care UK, Cinnamon Care Collection, Bupa’s Richmond Villages, Loveday & Co, KYN, PJ Care, Caring Homes, Compass Group UK & Ireland and Milford Care. They will compete for the national title at Loughborough College on 14 October.
The competition continues to showcase the increasingly important role catering teams play in supporting residents’ health, wellbeing and quality of life. As care providers place greater emphasis on person-centred dining, nutrition and meal experiences, initiatives such as the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition help raise professional standards while recognising the expertise of chefs working within the sector.
Head Judge Steve Munkley MBE praised the quality of this year’s entries, describing the standard as higher than ever and noting that the eventual winner will need to deliver an exceptional performance in the final.
Neel Radia, National Chair of the NACC, said the competition demonstrates the passion, creativity and nutritional knowledge required to provide high-quality dining experiences for people receiving care, while helping to raise the profile of care catering as a specialist profession.
Learn more about the NACC Care Chef of the Year competition here.
