11 competing countries in order to reveal the best of bakery.

The full extent of the competitors' skills is put to the test:

• Breads of the world (baguettes, bread typical of the country represented, nutrition and health bread, restaurant bread rolls).
• Viennoiseries (sweet breads).
• New: a category dedicated to sandwiches.
• Artistic creations

A "Special Nutrition" trophy will be awarded by a jury composed of nutritionists and chefs.

The teams are to be composed of two candidates: a professional baker older than 18 years on January 24th 2009 and of an assistant no older than 22 years of age on January 24th, 2009.

The contest will be structured into two parts, with 1 hour dedicated to preparation on the eve of the contest, and 8 hours 30 minutes on the day of the contest.

The 1st Mondial du pain (Lyon) gave bakers the chance to take in new ideas in the field of gastronomy, to glean information on the nutritional values of bread and to introduce young people to the trade. To this tempting event, twelve countries from five continents travelled over in 2007, and the 2009 event is set to welcome even more participants.

The competing teams for Breads of the World, pastries, and even artistic creations, can participate thanks to the association created by 10 independent bakers (8 of whom have been awarded Best Workers in France).

Philibert savours, creator of flavours based on cereals, fruits and vegetables, infusions of aromatic plants, is one of the partners of the association. The latter is dedicated to making people aware of a profession in full development, of its research programmes and of the Bread for Health nutritional aspects.

The ambassadors of Bread seek to show that respecting traditions can go hand in hand with modern materials, new technologies, and the social obligations of the 21st Century.