Chef and mentor Will King Gold and First Class Category Winner at CATEX 2025.
The team from Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s College of FET, Hospitality Campus, has once again dominated the Chef Ireland National Culinary Competition at CATEX 2025, one of Ireland’s most prestigious culinary competitions and networking events in the foodservice industry.
Apprentice star chef Freddie Cullen pictured in competiton before becoming a Gold and First Class Category Winner at CATEX 2025.
This marks another remarkable achievement for the team, which includes a dedicated group of tutors and Apprentice of the Year winner Freddie Cullen. Their success at this esteemed event further highlights the Hospitality Campus’s status as an EFQM (European Framework for Quality Management) European Centre of Excellence in the delivery of high-quality Further Education and Training.
Over the three days the College of FET Hospitality Campus won an incredible 17 Silver, 12 Gold and 12 National Champion Awards and the Food Safety Professional Hygiene Award.
Chef Keith Pigott, Gold and First Class Category Winner at CATEX 2025.
This remarkable achievement is a demonstration of the exceptional standards of training and preparation at the campus, which is part of Limerick and Clare ETB’s multi-campus offering throughout the region.
Speaking about the team’s success, Paul Patton, Director of Further Education and Training at Limerick and Clare ETB, commented: ‘Our College of FET Hospitality Campus has earned a stellar reputation for culinary excellence, and this achievement further underscores the dedication and effort involved in preparing for a prestigious event like CATEX. It’s also a true testament to the passion, talent, and commitment of our expert instructors and apprentices, whose hard work has made this success possible”.
Martin Zemba, Gold and First Class Category Winner Award doing a flambé at CATEX 2025.
This year is particularly significant for both the team and the event itself, as CATEX celebrates its 60th anniversary as Ireland’s premier gathering for the Hospitality and Foodservice sectors. Organised by the Irish Foodservice Suppliers’ Alliance (IFSA), CATEX has long been a cornerstone of the industry, drawing thousands of visitors each year. The event brings together professionals from the foodservice and hospitality sectors to network, share the latest innovations, and discuss solutions to industry challenges.
Bernadette Enright, College of FET, Hospitality Campus Manager and Gold and First Class Category Winner decanting at Catex 2025.
Speaking from Catex about the awards Hospitality Campus Manager Bernadette Enright said: “We are so delighted and proud of this result. Our team put in a huge effort with hours and hours of preparation and dedication and I am thrilled at the standards we achieved”.
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