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From Montreal to World Champions!
Groupe NO.900 and its sister brand Locali just swept the International Pizza Challenge—widely considered the world’s premier pizza competition—held in Las Vegas in March.
The world’s largest pizza industry trade show, Pizza Expo features the International Pizza Challenge where hundreds of pizzaiolos compete across traditional and creative categories.
Medaling here cements a chef’s place among the global elite.
Competing against nearly 750 pizzaiolos and judged entirely blind, three members of the Québec delegation rose to the top of the global rankings, securing two first-place finishes and one second-place finish across some of the event’s most competitive categories.
Read more: where to find the best pizza in Montreal
What is ranked the best pizza in the world?
Mirko D’Agata led the charge with a standout performance. Already crowned 2025 Napoletana STG World Champion, the executive chef of Pizzerias No.900 claimed first place in the Pan Pizza category before going on to defeat the winners of each top division to earn the ultimate title of World Champion Pizza Maker—an honour awarded to the best overall pizzaiolo across all categories.
His achievements were further recognized with his induction into the World Pizza Champions, an invitation-only organization comprising just 70 elite pizzaiolos worldwide.
As one of the first Canadians—and the first Québécois—to join its ranks, D’Agata further cements his international reputation.
Patrice Desmeules, soon to open his first Locali outpost, captured first place globally in the American Traditional category, while Locali’s Executive Chef Fiodar Huminski followed closely with a second-place finish in the same division, underscoring the group’s depth of talent.
In a competition where each edition resets the playing field and removes any potential bias, reaching the finals—and ultimately winning—remains a rare feat.
Where is Pizzeria NO.900 and Pizzeria Locali?
With locations across Canada, find your neighbourhood pizzeria here.
Other results from the 9 Groupe NO.900 participants at Pizza Expo:
Pizzeria Locali
American Traditional
Patrice Desmeules (Co-owner and operator of NO.900 Beauport): 1st in the world
Fiodar Huminski (Executive Chef of Locali and co-owner of NO.900 Terrebonne, Beaches, and Bernard): 5th in the world, 2nd internationally
Samuel Goddard (Co-owner and operator of NO.900 Bromont): 21st in the world
John Sanoudakis: 35th in the world
Best Cheese
John Sanoudakis (Head of Operations at Locali): 7th in the world, 2nd internationally (this category excludes the USA)
Patrice Desmeules: 20th in the world
Fiodar Huminski: 42nd in the world
Dairy Free
Fiodar Huminski (Executive Chef of Locali and co-owner of NO.900 Terrebonne, Beaches, and Bernard): 4th in the world
Pizzeria NO.900
Neapolitan
Simon Melki (Senior Culinary Trainer): 26th in the world, Marinara sub-division: 2nd
Gabriel Pereira (Pizzaiolo at NO.900 Blainville): 65th in the world
Mathilde Arsenault (Pizzaiola at NO.900 Boisbriand): 71st in the world, Margherita sub-division: 2nd (out of 2)
Cloé Martin (Pizzaiola at NO.900 Beauport): 74th in the world
Patrice Tremblay (Co-owner and operator of NO.900 Beauport) (AVPN Neapolitan): 48th in the world
Non-Traditional
Mirko: 89th in the world
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