Eresta Diantara crowned champion of Monin Cup 2024

SIMDI Group has successfully wrapped up the Monin Cup 2024.

The company in collaboration with Monin, held the first-ever Monin Cup in the Maldives on June 22.

The competition was held at the luxurious Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives.

The event carried the purpose of celebrating the innovation and excellence in the beverage industry and brought together talented bartenders stationed nationwide to showcase their skills and creativity in mixology.

Organized by Monin since 2014, the Monin Cup is designed to challenge young bartenders in a professional competition.

Beginning nationally and culminating in an international finale, the competition takes place in several stages.

2024 marked the first edition of Monin Cup in the Maldives.

SIMDI Group revealed that the enthusiasm was impressive and that the event has received a very positive response from industry professionals in the island nation.

The company received more than 50 entries across several resorts from the Maldives for the inaugural Maldives edition of the Monin Cup.

During the online registration, all participants submitted their recipes and Monin International shortlisted the top 15 who competed for the top spot.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Managing Director of SIMDI Group Mishal Ibrahim Mohamed Didi stated that they have long been dedicated to enriching the Maldivian landscape by bringing world-class events to the Maldives, and the Monin Cup 2024 mirrors their mission of fostering global connections and showcasing incredible talent.

He went on to thank Cluster General Manager, Operations & GM of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Corinna Luebbe as well as the team at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa for providing such a stunning venue and impeccable hospitality, Monin Representatives Angelo Kerum and Felipe Valencia Santander for their unwavering support as well as to Kristie Lee Murray for adding immense value to the judging panel.

The exciting and thrilling competition saw the top 15 bartenders showcasing their mixology skills using several ingredients combined with Monin products to present their drinks to the judges.

The participants had 10 minutes each, to prepare four drinks for the judges.

The judges panel for the Monin Cup 2024 included Monin Beverage Expert Felipe, Corrinna and Influencer and Co-owner of Indulge Maldives Travel Agency and Indulge Thulusdhoo Café Kristie.

Eresta Diantara from Ritz Carlton Maldives was crowned the champion of the competition, with Danielle Marcelo from Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa following close as the first runner-up.

Pratha Malhotra from Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives was the second runner-up.

Diantara will represent the Maldives in the international Monin Cup final in France in 2024.

Further, the first and second runners-up will be entitled to an exclusive visit to the Monin factory in Malaysia.

Trade and Marketing Manager for the Middle East, Asia, and the Subcontinent at Monin Kerum stated that over the years of working in Monin and hosting multiple Monin Cups across the globe, Monin Cup Maldives has been one of the best competitions held so far.

Kerum added that the level of the participants was very impressive and that their team looks forward to working together with SIMDI Groups closely to create more opportunities for the upcoming talents of the industry.

Highlighting that the competition was a resounding success, SIMDI offered heartfelt congratulations to all the participants and winners.

SIMDI expressed keen interest to continue the tradition in the years to come.

Initially, SIMDI Bev introduced Monin products targeting the resort market in 2010.

However, presently the product range is available to every consumer market across the Maldives, from home use to luxury five-star resorts, large coffee chains, specialty restaurant cafés as well as guest houses.

SIMDI Bev decided to provide an opportunity for their valued customers to experience Monin products before purchasing, due to the growing demand from retail customers for home usage.

As such, consumers may access Monin products from the SIMDI outlets in both capital Malé City and Hulhumalé including the SIMDI Resu Showroom, SIMDI Cpd Maafannu Showroom, SIMDI Recrea as well as online.

In a bid to provide the hospitality industry with the best possible support service in the supply and distribution of beverages, SIMDI Bev was established in the 1980s.

Presently, SIMDI Bev is engaged in marketing and distributing the full range of beverages to the resort and commercial markets.