The Bread Bakers Guild Team USA won the North American selection round of The Louis Lesaffre Cup, while Peru edged out Brazil for the title in the South American selection round in a competition that took place Sept. 26-28 at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas.

The U.S. team members are Michael Zakowski, Artisan Bakers in Sonoma, CA, in Bread; Jeremey Gadouas, Bakery Nouveau/Snohomish Bakery in Seattle, WA, in Viennese Pastry; and Harry Peemoeller, Instructor, Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, NC, in Artistic Piece.

The two winning teams from North and South America were awarded with the Louis Lesaffre Cup trophy and earned spots at the Coupe du Monde de la Boulangerie, or Bakery World Cup, in 2012 at the Europain convention in Paris, France.

Following international selection rounds, nine teams will have earned the right to compete for the Bakery World Cup title, along with the three pre-selected countries (France, Taiwan and Italy).

The Bread Bakers Guild of America is a non-profit organization comprised of professional bakers, farmers, millers, suppliers, educators, students, home bakers, technical experts, and bakery owners and managers who work together to support the principle and the practice of producing the highest quality baked goods. It was formed in 1993 to shape the skills and knowledge of the artisan baking community through education.