From Montreal to World Champions!
NO.900 Group and its Locali brand recently dominated the International Pizza Challenge, considered the most prestigious pizza competition in the world, held at the Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March.
The largest professional pizza industry trade show, Pizza Expo, includes the International Pizza Challenge, where hundreds of pizzaiolos compete in categories ranging from traditional to creative. Winning a medal here confirms a chef’s place among the global elite.
Against nearly 750 competitors judged blind, three members of the Quebec delegation rose to the top of the world rankings, winning two first places and one second place in some of the most competitive categories at the event.
Mirko D’Agata led the charge with an exceptional performance, crowned World Champion Napoletana STG 2025. The executive chef of NO.900 pizzerias claimed first place in the Pan Pizza category before beating the winners of each main division to secure the ultimate title of World Champion Pizza Maker.
His accomplishments were further recognized with his integration into the World Pizza Champions, an invitation-only organization that gathers only 70 elite pizzaiolos worldwide.
As the first Quebecer and among the first Canadians to join these ranks, D’Agata solidifies his international reputation.
Patrice Desmeules, who will soon open his first Locali, clinched the top spot globally in the American Traditional category, while Fiodar Huminski, executive chef of Locali, closely followed with a second place in the same category, highlighting the group’s depth of talent.
In a competition where each edition resets to zero and eliminates any potential bias, reaching the final—and winning—remains a rare achievement.
With locations across Canada, find your neighborhood pizzeria here.
Other results of the 9 NO.900 Group participants at Pizza Expo:
Pizzeria Locali – American Traditional – Patrice Desmeules: 1st worldwide – Fiodar Huminski: 5th worldwide, 2nd international – Samuel Goddard: 21st worldwide – John Sanoudakis: 35th worldwide
– Best Cheese – John Sanoudakis: 7th worldwide, 2nd international (outside USA) – Patrice Desmeules: 20th worldwide – Fiodar Huminski: 42nd worldwide
– Dairy Free – Fiodar Huminski: 4th worldwide
Pizzeria NO.900 – Neapolitan – Simon Melki: 26th worldwide, subcategory Marinara: 2nd – Gabriel Pereira: 65th worldwide – Mathilde Arsenault: 71st worldwide, subcategory Margherita: 2nd – Cloe Martin: 74th worldwide – Patrice Tremblay: 48th worldwide
– Non-Traditional – Mirko D’Agata: 89th worldwide
RECOMMENDED: The most romantic restaurants in Montreal Restaurants in Quebec with Michelin stars: official 2025 list Complete guide to what to do in Montreal.
