The World Food Championships

When CEO Mike McCloud's marketing agency (MMA Creative) became the AOR for the Kansas City Barbecue Society, there wasn't a single event that served as a Finale to all of the citywide, statewide and regional cooking competitions around the country. Mike's vision was to create an elite level competition where the winners of other cooking competitions could come to win bragging rights and the biggest payday in the industry. So, Food Sport was born... a long-term, fun-filled legacy for the culinary industry and affiliated brands. Liken it to the Olympics or the Super Bowl. Our organization works to bring together the winners of food competitions to our flagship events, the World Food Championships and the World Championship Chili Cook-Off as well as hundreds of other affiliated partnering events in every state across the country.

The World Food Championships (WFC) is the highest stakes food competition in the world. This multi-day, live event culinary competition showcases some of the world's best cooks who compete for food, fame and fortune in 10 categories (Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Dessert, Rice/Noodles, Sandwich, Seafood, Soup, Steak and Vegetarian). In 2021, more than 300 culinary teams from 5 countries and 40 American states competed in WFC’s Main Event. While contestants have to earn their way into WFC by winning a Golden Ticket at a qualifying event, potential judges are welcome to take WFC’s online certification course that explains the E.A.T. methodology. Certified judges then request and receive available seats at the next scheduled WFC event. A self-described champion of Food Sport, McCloud has been advising, strategizing, marketing and building companies for 25 years. His major accomplishments include acquiring two agencies along the way, expanding offices into four cities, publishing a regional business journal and creating and funding ventures like the World Food Championships, the World Championship Chili Cook-Off and a developing an award-winning Food Champ talent firm. He has earned dozens of awards as the lead strategist for active food marketing campaigns with clients like Coca-Cola, Sam’s Club, Tyson, Smithfield and Kraft Foods and many others. The World Food Championships partners with 100+ sponsors at its main event each year and now offers a gateway program to introduce its partners to other qualifying events around the country and around the world.

As the originator and leader in Food Sport, we are looking to introduce ourselves to CVB's and Sports Commissions across the country, to develop city/state/regional partnerships as well as to discuss potential sites of future events as well as to bring partners to existing cooking tournaments and festivals in your market. We already have state partners in Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, and Tennessee.