Several readers have commented that they have little or no faith in NVQs. Others say they wouldn't ask if a candidate for a job had one. In fact, I have not yet found anyone to sing their praises.

The Office for National Statistics said this week that the UK's rate of inflation fell to 1.9% in July, below the government's target of 2%.

Zimbabwe's Grain Marketing Board ran out of wheat last week, with the impact likely to be felt by bakers this week.

An Aberdeen bakery, which provides work for adults with learning disabilities, has been nominated for a national award.

Bakery ingredients suppliers are being hit by export restrictions designed to counter the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Firms are flocking to join the Baking Industry Exhibition (BIE), organised by William Reed Events.

New rules come into force on 30 October that will require bakeries to reduce the amount of waste they send to landfill.

Tesco has launched its first range of breads made using no artificial additives. The range of eight products goes on sale across Britain this month.

Suppliers and creditors have raised serious concerns about London wholesale bakery European Bakeries, which recently spent a week in administration.

The quality and yield for the rest of the UK wheat harvest now depends on the weather during the next two to three weeks, says the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).

A new report sets out to highlight what it calls "bully-boy tactics" used by some of the supermarkets when dealing with suppliers.

n Three drug addicts were jailed this month after threatening a baker with a sawn-off shotgun and an axe. In April last year, the burglars forced baker Royston Owen - who was working at Mr Bunn the Baker in Long Stratton, Norfolk - to hand over £500 in cash. Owen was made to draw money out of his account from a cash machine and was hit on the side of the head with the gun.

Foodservice supplier Brakes is increasing its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity with a set of environmental and social programmes.

Seventeen years ago, Peter Cook was a sandwich maker for his in-laws' bakery in Ludlow. Today, he's a Rick Stein food hero and he takes the job seriously.

Having spent the past few months acclimatising to its new production headquarters in Inverurie, west of Aberdeen, JG Ross Bakers is embarking on the acquisition trail as it aims to turn anticipated sales of £8.3m for 2008 into an annual turnover of £11m by 2011. "We now have the capacity to target more volume," executive chairman and company founder George Ross tells British Baker.

Booths Supermarkets was established in 1847 and celebrates its 160th anniversary this year. It has 26 stores across Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria and Yorkshire, with a company turnover of £230m.

Small businesses can thank the House of Lords for guidance on how to organise their tax affairs, following a decision in the case of Arctic Systems.

Australia pudding manufacturer Pudding Lane is to branch into the UK market by launching three new Christmas desserts.

Plant baker Warburtons saw a dip in profits in 2006, according to its latest accounts filed at Companies House.

A Tesco superstore in Harlow, Essex, had to be evacuated last weekend after a fire broke out in an in-store bakery.

Irish sandwich and coffee chain O'Briens has revealed it will make its first foray across the Atlantic with the roll-out of a franchise operation in Canada.

New research from Mintel suggests there is growing demand for local, home-grown food, as consumers bid to cut down on food miles and carbon dioxide emissions.

A new study is to be carried out in Ireland, by the privately funded Boyne Research Institute in Drogheda, to evaluate the likely impact of Ireland's forthcoming programme to fortify flour with folic acid.

Northern supermarket chain Booths is seeing significant growth in its bakery division, it has told British Baker.

CSM vowed to make itself the "European premier supplier of choice" in the coffee shop sector, following its acquisition of Kate's Cakes this week.

The Association of Bakery Ingredient Manufacturers (ABIM) has said it is not possible for its members to absorb further unprecedented price increases on raw materials.

Allied Bakeries has launched a six-week sampling campaign for its new Kingsmill Love to Toast sub-brand in Tesco stores.

Ingredients supplier Bakels is launching a range of healthy products, including an Omega 3 patent-pending paste, which it says is unique on the market.

n The Food Standards Agency and the British Sandwich Association (BSA) are working on a set of industry guidelines for sandwich manufacturers and sandwich bars, due to be published next year.

For employees in bakery retail, foodservice or food processing industries, choices made about handwashing affect not only the employee, but also other people: consumers, diners and the general public. Handwashing among food workers is crucial to prevent the spread of germs that can lead to food-borne illnesses and food poisoning. Efficient hand hygiene needs to become automatic.

Meeting and answering the demands of its customers has seen continuous investment in plant, equipment and people at Birds (Derby)'s central bakery. The bakery company has always had one simple aim - to make a product that is as fresh as possible. It is a philosophy that bakery manager Gary Entwistle recalls nearly caught him out, back in Christmas 2005. "All had gone to plan until the final shift," he says. "In order to achieve the freshness we promise and deliver to our customers, we left the production of cobs as late as possible in that final shift. Seven hours before the shift was due to end, we had a problem with the roll plant, which took two hours to remedy."

Italians take their bread seriously. Along with pasta, bread remains a fundamental staple of the Italian diet. I do not recall having once sat down at an Italian dinner table and not been offered bread of some description. The variety of bread available is staggering, matched by the fact that every region, indeed every province, has its own specialities and style. But bread is more than just a product in Italy. It is an intrinsic part of Italian culture.

You have to be strong to be a baker," says Caroline Parkins - strong-willed, that is, and not just physically fit, if you're to fight the tide of mediocrity that she believes has dumbed down our bread.

Café franchise chain Coffee Republic aims to open 100 more sites in the next year.

British sandwich chain Pret A Manger plans to open up to 100 shops in New York within the next five years, commercial director Simon Hargraves has confirmed.

An Edinburgh bakery owner faces a fine after mouse and beetle infestations were found at his premises.

Bakers have pulled together with acts of charity and camaraderie following the recent devastating floods in Gloucestershire.

A senior Midlands bakery worker has been awarded £400,000 in an out-of-court settlement following a horrific injury.

British Sugar Group has appointed Gino De Jaegher as MD for the UK and Ireland. He will take up the role in September.

Bagel specialist Maple Leaf UK has expressed concern over the impact of soaring flour prices and energy costs on its business.

Irish bakery group McCambridge has outlined plans for Inter Link, after it bought the cake company from administration on July 20.

Fletchers Bakeries in Sheffield has announced major changes to its management team, following a recent review of its structure and operations performance.

Convenience foods specialist Greencore Group is selling its 50% shareholding in Irish miller the Odlum Group to Origin Enterprises, giving Origin total control.

Greggs has sailed out of the Doldrums with a boom in profits for the first half of 2007, restoring its fortunes to the record levels enjoyed in 2005, it said this week.