Golden Carp and Maritim triumph in the Wehner-Groma Cup!

Golden Carp and Maritim triumph in the Wehner-Groma Cup!

The 46th Wehner-Groma Cup at the Eduard Stieler School in Fulda on November 8, 2025 was a complete success - both for the participants and for the catering industry. A total of 14 trainees from kitchen and service demonstrated their skills and competed for the coveted awards. With a clear goal in mind: The young talents should prove their skills in competitive situations, because the shortage of skilled workers is a challenge that the industry currently has to face.

In the chef category, Murilo Deters Mayer from the Hotel Goldener Karpfen won first place. Second place went to Mariia Shulkovska from Gasthof Altes Casino Petersberg, who also received the special prize for the best main course. Erik Faulstich, also from Gasthof Altes Casino, followed in third place. Among the service staff, Amelie Lühn from the Maritim Hotel Fulda triumphed, not only winning first prize but also the special prize for the most beautiful table, which she designed together with Moritz Pappert. Leonie Flade from Hotel Fulda Mitte and Jolina Möller from Hotel Esperanto Fulda took second and third place in the service category.

A look back at the competition

The competition has been held since 1977 in collaboration with the Fulda Chefs' Association and the Hotel and Restaurant Association. This year there were 14 participants, including 6 chefs and 7 restaurant and hotel professionals. The motto of the year, “250 years of Riesling Spätlese-Reiter”, underlined the culinary background of the event. The jury evaluated a creative four-course menu that featured goat cheese starters, vegan entrees, braised meat variations and a variety of sauces and potato side dishes. Fine wines from the region, such as Riesling Spätlese and fine red wines from Spain, were also served.

Oliver Wehner, managing partner of Groma, recalled the importance of training in the catering industry in his opening speech. With around 50,000 current apprenticeships in Germany, the industry is facing profound change; these numbers are only half as high as they were at the beginning of the 2000s. Headmaster Isabel Herbert emphasized the importance of cooperation between schools, companies and partners, which is strengthened by the competition.

Politics and funding

At the award ceremony, District Administrator Bernd Woide (CDU) also proved to be a supporter of the catering industry. He emphasized the importance of both performance and enjoyment in the industry. The Wehner-Groma Cup not only stands for competition, but also for team spirit and willingness to learn, and has established itself over the years as an essential part of the training culture.

With such a strong and committed performance by the young talents, one thing becomes clear: Gastronomy in Fulda has a promising future. If the next generations continue to work with such motivation and creativity, we can look to the future with optimism. In the hope that such competitions will continue to take place, there is only one thing left to say: a hearty “Good cooking!” to everyone involved!

For more information about the competition and results, see the articles from Fulda newspaper and East Hesse News.