World Chocolate Master

A mix of curiosity and ambition led Elias to Paris. Precision and speed led him to the title. Finally, his diligence and a spirit of innovation lead him continuously to new creations and moments of joy under the Läderach brand.

The path to the title

Allow us to introduce Elias Läderach, the World Chocolate Master from Switzerland.

The path to the title The path to the title

Qualifying phase

The first stage of the trip to Paris was via Zurich, which is where the Swiss Championships took place in the fall of 2017. This preselection involved a number of strong competitors, which Elias was thrilled to be part of.

Qualifying phase Qualifying phase

Training sessions

Practice. Practice. Practice. And then start all over again. Elias Läderach spent every day of the summer weeks in 2018 at the factory in Glarnerland. These were long days spent to perfect his art.

Training sessions Training sessions

Behind the scenes

Arrival in Paris, with only a few days left before the competition. The team is on its way to the Salon du Chocolat, the venue for the World Chocolate Masters 2018.

Behind the scenes Behind the scenes

The championship begins

The first round, straight into the freestyle activity. The task was to create a futuristic showpiece made entirely of chocolate, which demanded complete and utter concentration.

The championship begins The championship begins

The day of the preliminary decision

The second round, it was important to move up a gear after a successful first day. There were three items to create now: a bar of chocolate, a snack to go, and candy.

The day of the preliminary decision The day of the preliminary decision

The triumph

Elias Läderach succeeded where no one had succeeded before: he won four of the six disciplines and, to top it all, received the coveted press award.

The triumph The triumph
“There are times when nothing else matters. And only the one idea exists.”

Elias Läderach

World Chocolate Masters

World Chocolate Masters

Every three years, the greatest talents, the most innovative chocolatiers, and the best head confectioners meet in Paris. Their mission is to create visionary chocolate masterpieces and to crown the next World Champion. The jury’s focus is entirely on the originality of the ideas and the precision and craftsmanship that bring them to life. Only national champions are allowed to take part, and only the best can win.

To the competition

Is this still chocolate or is it already art?

Fresh chocolate is a delight. It can also be used to make ideas tangible and elicit amazement on the part of the beholder. Nothing emphasizes this more explicitly than the large-format sculptures developed and artistically put into practice by the skilled hands of Elias Läderach and his team.

“Eiffel Tower”

2024, Showpiece Paris, Rue de Rivoli, dark, milk, blond and white chocolate, cast and carved.

“Skateboard”

2024, Showpiece, dark, milk, blond and white chocolate, cast, carved and colored with an airbrush.

“Chocolate Clock”

2024, Showpiece, dark, milk, blond and white chocolate, cast, carved and colored with an airbrush.

“Chocolate Violin”

2024, Showpiece San Diego Culinary Concerto, dark, milk, blond and white chocolate, cast, stenciled, carved and shaped.

“Statue of Liberty”

2023, showpiece in New York City, 5th Avenue, dark chocolate, cast, sculptured and shaped, gold-plated with an airbrush, more than 2 meters tall.

“The Futropolitan”

2018, large showpiece WCM, dark and white chocolate, cast, stenciled, carved and shaped, colored with an airbrush.

“City of Tomorrow”

2018, small showpiece WCM, dark and white chocolate, cast, stenciled, carved and shaped, colored with an airbrush.

Elias' story

Would you like to know how Elias Läderach spends his day? Simply follow him into his workshop, up into the Swiss mountains, and around the world, he's always searching for new ideas.

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From origin to indulgence

We have been sharing our passion for fresh chocolate for generations. Discover more about our history, our innovations, and the authentic artisanal skills of our chocolatiers.

Freshness

Freshness

The exquisite taste of our chocolate creations is an affair of the heart for us. That’s why we make them fresh daily and get them to you as quickly as possible, so you can experience the freshness with all your senses.

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Origin

Origin

Our top priority is to craft chocolate of the highest quality. That’s why we oversee the entire procurement process ourselves, be it in the intertropical cocoa belt or the Swiss Alpine region.

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Our chocolate

Before finishing our creations by hand, we make our couvertures, liquid chocolate we produce ourselves in Glarus. Fresh. Every day.

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