Plugra European-Style Butter will serve as the title sponsor of the 2013 American Culinary Federation (ACF) Pastry Chef of the Year regional competitions and the national competition to determine the overall national winner.

As the 2013 title sponsor for the ACF Pastry Chef of the Year award, Plugra pledged support and product for the competitions. In addition, Plugra butter will be the only butter provided at the four ACF regional conference pastry competitions and the national competition at the 2013 ACF National Convention in Las Vegas. Plugra has sponsored ACF events since 2009 and became a Grand Platinum Level sponsor in 2012.

"We are pleased that ACF and Plugra are working together in a competition that highlights the top pastry chefs in the industry," says ACF National President Michael Ty, CEC, AAC. "ACF pastry chefs deserve the best ingredients when competing for the national title of Pastry Chef of the Year. Plugra European-Style Butter has consistently won the ACF Seal of Approval and is an excellent choice for this competition."

The ACF Pastry Chef of the Year title was first awarded in 2004 and recognizes a pastry chef who displays a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has helped educate others by sharing skills and knowledge. Chefs, nominated by their colleagues, from ACF's four regions will compete at their respective regional conferences to win one of the four spots available to compete for the national title at the 2013 ACF National Convention. The overall winner will receive $5,000 and the title of 2013 ACF Pastry Chef of the Year.

"There are many reasons we are proud to work with the ACF. It is a great organization that focuses on furthering the foodservice industry by representing quality and supporting chefs around the country," says Ashley Campbell, Plugra senior associate brand manager. "Sponsoring the ACF Pastry Chef of the Year competition is a perfect fit for us, as pastries put ingredients center stage and showcase the performance qualities of Plugra. We look forward to seeing what the chef competitors create using our butter."

Chefs will have 3 hours 30 minutes to prepare, cook and serve three styles of desserts to present to a panel of distinguished judges. This year's national winner will be announced at the President's Grand Ball at the 2013 ACF National Convention, July 21-25, at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Las Vegas.

Three varieties of Plugra Butter—salted, unsalted and clarified—were once again awarded the prestigious ACF Seal of Approval after extensive testing to evaluate the butters for consistency, performance, adaptability to various cooking situations and label accuracy in September 2012. Plugra was originally awarded the ACF Seal of Approval in 2009.

National sponsors of the 2013 ACF events series and awards are: Alabama Gulf Seafood; Allen Brothers; American Roland; American Technical Publishers; The Beef Checkoff; Campbell Soup Company; Canada Cutlery Inc.; Central Region State Beef Councils; The Cheesecake Factory Bakery, Inc.; Clemens Food Group; Custom Culinary, Inc.; Ecolab; Gordon Food Service; The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes; Idaho Potato Commission; Idaho Preferred; Johnson & Wales University; JTM Food Group; Kentucky Beef Council; Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc.; McCormick For Chefs; MINOR'S; Mississippi Seafood Marketing; NEWCHEF Fashion, Inc.; Plugra European Style-Butter; PreGel AMERICA; R.L. Schreiber, Inc.; Riviana Foods; Sysco; Tyson Food Service; Unilever Food Solutions; Victorinox Swiss Army; Vitamix Corporation; and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.