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Blind judging · 75% panel · 25% public

Judges & Compere

A panel chosen for taste, range and credibility — and a compere to keep the day moving.

The Panel

Judging is blind. The panel sees biscuits, not names.

  • Portrait of Sarah Rankin

    Sarah Rankin

    Compere

    Compere for the inaugural World Shortbread Championships.

  • Portrait of Jeni Iannetta

    Jeni Iannetta

    Head Judge

    Head judge leading the panel for the inaugural World Shortbread Championships.

  • Portrait of Panel being confirmed

    Panel being confirmed

    Specialist judges

    The full panel of specialist judges — bakers, food writers, hospitality leaders, and producers — will be announced ahead of the championships.

Panel being confirmed

The full panel will be announced ahead of the championships. We're recruiting from four specialist types:

  • Accomplished bakers

    Working bakers and pastry chefs with the palate to assess Traditional and Specialist on its own terms.

  • Food writers

    Critics, cookbook authors and journalists whose job is to articulate why a biscuit is excellent.

  • Hospitality leaders

    Restaurant operators, hotel pastry leads and catering directors who buy and serve at scale.

  • Producers

    Mill, dairy and Highland ingredient producers who know what a great raw material looks like in the bake.