Sponsored by Brook Food & Bakery Equipment

Aidan Monks – Lovingly Artisan

Aidan hasn’t let complacency sink in since taking home the Baker of the Year trophy in 2019. He has maintained a position of being ‘front and centre’ of Cumbria-based bakery Lovingly Artisan, including a hands-on role in production and helping to build relationships with suppliers and customers. It was his passion and continuous drive for improvement which saw him secure title ahead of a three other highly talented finalists, with judges lauding his “outstanding” output, adding that the products were “as usual, very good”.

Sponsored by Zeppelin Systems

Jason's Sourdough

Jason’s Sourdough has quickly secured itself a decent slice of the UK bread market by focusing on the premium pre-packed bread segment with a range of sourdough loaves and rolls. Its objectives for the past year were to increase availability, awareness, and penetration in order to grow retail sales values – something it has undoubtedly achieved. Its products are now in more than 3,000 stores nationwide and the brand has proved so popular that owner Geary’s Bakeries is investing £8m in a new manufacturing facility in Leicester to keep up with demand. It also wowed the judges with a “fantastic brand story”.

Sponsored by Rademaker

Montana Bakery

Exceptional product quality, flexibility, speed to market, and a focus on developing the skills of its employees were among the attributes that saw Montana Bakery rise to the top of the manufacturers this year. The Berkshire-based business, which has reached £57m in turnover, runs two adjacent units at its site just a short hop from Heathrow airport, in which it manufacturers a range of premium tier focaccia, flatbreads, pizza bases, and more for discerning customers including several major supermarkets. Over 50% of the products are still finished by hand with toppings such as peppers, olives, and marinated onions.

Sponsored by IFF

Marks & Spencer

M&S continues to prove itself as a leader in bakery retailing having previously taken home the trophy in this category in 2022. Not resting on its laurels since the previous win, the team at M&S have been working hard to elevate its operation further to deliver a best-in-class operating model which is profitable for the business. This includes investing in its in-store bakeries with new space added to fixtures and ‘market-leading’ ovens rolled out. It has also revamped ranges and recipes for several core lines, including muffins, cookies, and handcrafted rolls.

Sponsored by Finsbury Food Group

Elaine's Creative Cakes

Elaine Hamey drew inspiration from local riverbanks and woodland for her winning cake which showcased techniques including marzipan and sugar paste modelling to airbrushing, hand-painting, brush embroidery, using boiled sugar to create rocks, and isomalt for a realistic water effect. “Every single element has been thought about meticulously,” noted the judges, who praised the innovative use of materials to achieve a realistic effect. A particular highlight was the use of semolina on sugar paste to make the bulrushes.

Sponsored by Dawn Foods

Pettigrew Bakeries

Family-run Cardiff sourdough and pastry specialist wowed the judges with exceptional products, a well thought out business model, and passionate staff. The business operates three sites across the city and the judges were particularly impressed with the use of different models for each one, designed to suit the location and customers of that area. The staff impressed the panel ensuring a positive atmosphere at every site. “The passion of every single member of staff shone through – they were engaged and excited to work for Pettigrew Bakeries and shared this excitement with the customers,” commented the judges.

Soft Gluten-Free White Pittas, Warburtons

Sponsored by Baker & Baker

Kimchi & Smoked Cheese Bear Claw, M's Bakery

The Bournemouth-based business followed up on its Cube Croissant success in the category last year by applying its laminated croissant dough to a savoury offering. Judges remarked that they had never seen the combination of kimchi and cheese before, especially in a pastry format, but found all three components to be “really well executed” with excellent technical skills demonstrated.

Cutter & Squidge

The dedication to online was what swung the judges in favour of this London-based sweet treat specialist, including a revamped website, lowered delivery prices, and specialised customer service team. Co-founded by sisters Annabel and Emily Lui, Cutter & Squidge pivoted to the online space during the pandemic and now completes 95% of its sales through its website. Products were said to be delicious and exceptionally presented upon arrival, looking exactly how they did on the website. “It was a genuine treat to receive through the post,” commented one judge.

Sponsored by Délifrance

George Stevenson

George Stevenson has been in the baking industry for nearly half a century during which time he has delivered growth for his family business and many others like it, and helped develop a programme which has become the backbone of training at many Scottish bakery businesses. His dedication and passion for the next generation of bakers is described as “unparalleled” and that his “leadership, determination, and energy delivered not only the training material but also the trainers and assessors.

Naomi Spaven – Coleg Cambria

Sponsored by Bako

Sprouted Ancient Grain Sourdough, Stir Bakery

Described as nutrient dense and high in fibre, the loaf is comprised of 30% sprouted grains – emmer, einkorn, spelt, and rye – which provide a bittersweet and nutty flavour. It uses natural leaven, gentle kneading, and a long slow rise to preserve the strength of its softer wholegrain flours. Judges found the “incredible texture and flavour” of this sourdough was elevated even further with the bespoke presentation of its own baked plywood stable and branding on top.

Sponsored by Macphie

Recyclable baking paper, Linwood Raker (Food Paper) with Biffa and Greggs

The collaborative partnership between baking paper supplier Linwood Raker (Food Paper), bakery giant Greggs, and waste management firm Biffa sought to divert thousands of tonnes of used baking paper into the recycling stream, avoiding alternative means of disposal. The trio faced many challenges along the way, particularly when it came to ensuring the paper was certified as recyclable but their dedication and tenacity saw the paper achieve On-Pack Recycling Labels (OPRL) approval last year.