From February 3 to 6, ACE Bakery’s senior director of Product Development Marcus Mariathas will compete for the title of World Master Baker against the world’s best bakers in the Masters de la Boulangerie in Paris, France. He will bring his expertise in traditional European methods as the sole North American representative in the Nutritional Bread Making category, competing alongside bakers from Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey and the Netherlands.
Escaping civil war in his native Sri Lanka, Mathiathas came to Toronto in 1995. While studying accounting, he took a part-time job as a night baker at ACE Bakery. Although he had no prior baking experience, it was his ability to manipulate numbers – and his unstoppable passion for baking – that helped him rise to the role of senior director of Product Development. He has successfully created over 400 breads and baked goods for ACE Bakery, each built upon nine proprietary, aged starter doughs.
Competing in the Master de la Boulangerie competition is the pinnacle for a baker’s career, resulting from four years of individual and team competitions. Eighteen bakers will compete in three categories, with the winner in each achieving the title of World Master Baker. Only six bakers in the world currently hold this title – a testament to their unique expertise on an international scale.
To join Marcus’ journey through the competition and for more info, follow ACE Bakery on Facebook Instagram Twitter or visit www.AceBakery.com.