Byerly’s Baker Wins IDDBA’s Cake Decorating Challenge

Andria Chinander of Lund Food Holdings (Byerly’s) in Edina, Minn., is the winner of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s 17th annual Cake Decorating Challenge, held during the IDDBA’s 2012 Dairy-Deli-Bake, June 10-12 in New Orleans.

Second place went to Amy Murtha of Hy-Vee Inc., in Belton, Mo.; the third-place winner was Stacie Clawson of Walmart in Perry, Utah.

“Cake decorating is getting a lot of support and involvement from managers and operators,” said IDDBA Executive Director Carol Christison. “Our contestants not only have the skill set needed to compete at a national level, but they have the internal fortitude that lets them do it under pressure. Each of the contestants chosen to compete is at the top of their game. They have demonstrated the skill set needed to compete in wedding cakes, production cakes and theme cakes. They’re not experts in one area – they’re experts in all three. No matter what trophy they take home, they’re all winners.”

On Sunday, June 10, each contestant decorated enough cakes to fill one multitiered, 8-foot bakery case. On Monday, June 11, each contestant decorated a multitiered wedding cake. On Tuesday, June 12, each contestant decorated three themed cakes of their choosing, one from each category: special occasion; theme/event; and decorator’s interpretation of the IDDBA's Dairy-Deli-Bake 2012 Foodies on Parade show theme.

Judges for the contest were Luke Bender of Maplehurst Bakeries and Jim Caliendo of Rich Products Corp.

Madison, Wis.-based IDDBA is a nonprofit membership organization serving the dairy, deli, bakery, cheese and supermarket foodservice industries.