As part of our commitment to transparency, we publish the names of the judges for each competition. (If judges opt-in for their names to be made public.)

Each competition is judged by a panel of experts, food journalists, sommeliers and pastry chefs, including the names listed below. The competition is overseen by members of our international Grand Jury, who travel to each competition.

We would like to thank our judges for their hard work, including any who chose for their names not to be listed. You can find the full list of winners for this competition in our ‘Rounds & results’ section.

Pilar Achirica (Netherlands), I work in banking (ING)

Sabino Berardino (Italy), Blogger, i Cento di Firenze – EDT

Sandro Bosticco (Italy), www.winesurf.it, Sandro Bosticco

Irma Brizi (Italy), Associazione Nazionale Città della Nocciola, direttore Associazione Nazionale Città della Nocciola

Lucia Buccheri (Italy), Teacher

Claudio Capaccioli (Italy), Food and Beverage Expert

Giulia Capece (Italy), Giulia capece

Martin Christy (United Kingdom), Seventy%, Permanent Grand Jury

Laura Dal Sacco (Italy), Associazione Oleum

Gabriella Demetz (Italy), AIS

Giuseppe Di Chiano (Italy), FBM Boscolo, 2

Shaun Dowd (United Kingdom), ARC ( Arts Centre) Deputy Chief Executive

Estela Duque (United Kingdom), Founder, Moulinet Chocolat Limited

Markus Gierke (Germany), FH Muenster/ Student

Gianmarco Ginatta Arosemena (Ecuador), Independiente

Pauline Gingnagel (Netherlands), 624214116, Pauline Gingnagel

Raquel Gonzalez Setien (Norway), Privado

Carlo Grenci (Italy), CARLO GRENCI SRL unipersi

Marcelo Gutiérrez Seijas (Peru), CBI

Freja Krarup Johansen (Denmark), Bojesen Konditori – Pastry Chef

Henkjan Laats (Netherlands), Cacaomuseum Amsterdam

Cherrie Lo (United Kingdom), Fortnum & Mason – Business Development Manager, Cherrie Lo

Mary Jose Lozada Del Valle (Spain), General Manager – Primos de Origen, Primos de Origen website

Stefania Marcuz (Italy), Food & Beverage Sensory Analysis Expert, F&B Taster & Consultant, Stefaniamarcuz.com

Gabriella Mari (Italy), teacher

Nubia Martínez Guerrero (Colombia), Federación Nacional de Cacaoteros

Silvia Martini (Italy), Senior scientist at GSK Vaccines

Kate McNally (Belgium), Project coordinator QCEA

David Menkes (United States), LetterPress Chocolate, LetterPress Chocolate

Monica Meschini (Italy), Chocolate/Tea Taster, Sommelier, Permanent Grand Jury

Ilena Minguzzi (Italy), The international institute of chocolate and cacao tasting

Francesco Petti (Italy), Cioccolatiere

Renate Plieger (Netherlands), Managementassistent

Teresa Politano (United States), Writer, Journalist

Daniele Portomeo (Italy), Impiegato

Alex Rast (United Kingdom), Consultant, Reviewer, Seventy% , Permanent Grand Jury

Martijn Seekles (Netherlands), Chocriti

Sabena Singh (United States), Pastry cook/taste tester

Katie Smith (United Kingdom), Editor at Confectionery Production magazine, Confectionery Production

Carmela Spatafora (Italy), tecnico di laboratorio

Stefano Tavella (Italy), Gelataio

Sara Trioni (Italy), Food Copywriter and Communication Consultant

Paul Van Dijk (Netherlands), Chocoladeverkopers, chocoladeverkopers

Dennis van Essen (Netherlands), The Highfive Company, The Highfive Company | American Bean to Bar Chocolate

Lauretta Vannini (Italy), Attualmente senza lavoro – Chocolate Taster 1 & 2 level

Nicolae Velciov (Romania), Choco Manifesto / Partner, Choco Manifesto