{{one source, date=May 2017 The World Association of Chefs' Societies (Worldchefs), is a global network of chefs associations first founded in October 1928 at the Sorbonne in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. At that first Worldchefs Congress there were 65 delegates from 17 countries, representing 36 national and international associations, and the venerable August Escoffier was named the first Honorary President of Worldchefsf. Today, this global body has 98 official

chef A chef is a professional Cook (profession), cook and tradesperson who is proficient in all aspects of outline of food preparation, food preparation, often focusing on a particular cuisine. The word "chef" is derived from the term (), the di ...

s associations as members. The biennial congress is a hallmark tradition of Worldchefs and has been organized in over 40 cities across the world throughout its illustrious 98-year history, Worldchefs is managed by an elected presidential body consisting of the Worldchefs

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

vice president A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

treasurer A treasurer is a person responsible for the financial operations of a government, business, or other organization. Government The treasury of a country is the department responsible for the country's economy, finance and revenue. The treasure ...

secretary general Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, Power (social and political), power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the org ...

and

ambassador An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...

honorary president, as well as a board of

continental Continental may refer to: Places * Continental, Arizona, a small community in Pima County, Arizona, US * Continental, Ohio, a small town in Putnam County, US Arts and entertainment * ''Continental'' (album), an album by Saint Etienne * Continen ...

directors that look after the regions of

Asia Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, Middle East & Africa, the Pacific-Rim and the

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. A separate committee manages all

culinary Culinary arts are the cuisine arts of food preparation, cooking, and presentation of food, usually in the form of meals. People working in this field – especially in establishments such as restaurants – are commonly called chefs or ...

competition-related affairs.

History

End of 19th Century Contact between various chef associations established.
1919 International labour office opens in Geneva, Switzerland
1920 Swiss cook federation introduces the idea of an international chef association in May.
1928 Worldchefs was established in Sorbonne, Paris. August Escoffier appointed as the first honorary president.
1930 Congress held in Paris, France
1936 Congress held in Nice, France
1939/45 WWII breaks out and contact between Worldchefs members are suspended
1949 SKV secretary W. Salzmann and the Swiss cook federation reinstate WACS
1951 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. Switzerland assumes WACS presidency
1954 Congress held in Berne, Switzerland
1956 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. Austria assumes Worldchefs presidency
1958 Congress held in Brussels, Belgium
1960 Congress held in Vienna, Austria. Germany assumes WACS presidency
1962 Congress held in Stockholm, Sweden
1964 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. Switzerland assumes Worldchefs presidency
1966 Congress held in Tel Aviv, Israel
1968 Worldchefs celebrates its 40th anniversary. Congress held in Geneva, Switzerland. Austria assumes WACS presidency
1970 Congress held in Budapest, Hungary
1972 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. German cook federation takes over presidency
1974 Congress held in Banff, Canada. Landmark meeting between members from different continents. Emile Perrin is selected to honorary presidents
1976 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. France assumes Worldchefs presidency
1978 Congress held in Paris, France
1980 Congress in Rome, Italy. Canada assumes WACS presidency
1982 Congress in Vienna, Austria and Budapest, Hungary
1984 Congress in Orlando, USA. Canada retains Worldchefs presidency
1986 Congress held in Ljubljana, Slovenia
1988 Worldchefs celebrates its 60th anniversary. Congress held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Germany assumes WACS presidency
1990 Congress held in Singapore
1992 Congress held in Frankfurt, Germany. USA assumes Worldchefs presidency
1994 Congress held in Stavanger, Norway
1996 Congress held in Jerusalem, Israel. South Africa assumes Worldchefs presidency
1998 Worldchefs celebrates its 70th anniversary. Congress held in Melbourne, Australia
2000 Congress in Maastricht, Netherlands. Germany assumes Worldchefs presidency
2002 Congress held in Kyoto, Japan
2004 Congress held in Dublin, Ireland. USA assumes WACS presidency
2006 Congress held in Auckland, New Zealand
2008 Congress held in Dubai, UAE. Iceland assumes WACS presidency 2010 Congress held in Santiago, Chili
2012 Congress held in Daejeon, South Korea
2014 Congress held in Stavanger, Norway
2016 Congress held in Thessaloniki, Greece
2017 Historical Committee Established by World President Thomas Gugler 2018 Congress held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2020 Congress held in St. Petersburg, Russia (Canceled)
2022 Congress held in Abu Dhabi, UAE
2024 Congress held in Singapore, UAE
2026 Congress held in Wales, UK
(March) 2024 New president elected Mr. Andy Cuthbert

External links

World Association of Chefs' Societies
International professional associations Catering education in France Culinary professional associations Organizations established in 1928

History

See also

External links