Five reasons why you should enter the Baking Industry Awards 2025

Entries for the Baking Industry Awards 2025 are officially open, with bakery teams across the nation getting excited at the prospect of lifting a coveted trophy.

This year is the 38th edition of the annual competition, and welcomes an even bigger array of categories (15 in total) to help shine a spotlight on UK bakery firms of all shapes and sizes, and the individuals behind their success.

You could be an artisan baker with a standout new product, a large-scale manufacturer with slick operations and a well-trained workforce, or a cherished brand among your customers and community – the awards grant the chance for all to shout about achievements over the past year.

For more details on the criteria for each category, including the brand-new Supplier of the Year and returning Team of the Year, visit our dedicated event website: www.bakeryawards.co.uk.

The deadline for submitting entries is Monday 28 April, so you’ll want to get cracking on those right away. But perhaps you’re still unsure of the benefits from entering this prestigious annual event. Fair enough. Here’s five top reasons why it’s an excellent idea to get involved:

Industry-wide recognition

It’s now the 38^th time the Baking Industry Awards have been held, a history that sees it highly regarded across the sector.

Contributing towards this reputation is the judging process, which varies depending on the category but is always conducted carefully and thoroughly by a team of experts including independent judges and representatives from sponsors and British Baker.

In addition, the black-tie awards ceremony is one of the top highlights in the bakery calendar. This means that, should you be a category finalist this year, you’ll be showcased in front of hundreds of key decision makers come Thursday 23 October at the Royal Lancaster in London. Such a lift to your business profile can have a long-lasting effect too.

“Being part of the Baking Industry Awards was a real treat as it’s a proper celebration of baking brilliance and lovely people, from the smallest craft bakeries to the biggest operators in the industry,” commented Stir Bakery co-founder Matt Harrison. “Winning Speciality Bread Product of the Year [in 2024] gave our team a huge lift and plenty to shout about.”

A boost to business

Being named a winner at the Baking Industry Awards generates confidence in your brand among existing customers (and thus increasing sales) as well as driving fresh business opportunities such as attracting new listings or wholesale clients.

Award-winning status also opens the doors to other events for your business.

For example, the British Society of Baking hosts spring and autumn conferences that often feature speakers that were previously champions at the Baking Industry Awards – the upcoming spring event has representatives from Bakery Brand of the Year 2024 Jason’s Sourdough and Craft Bakery Business of the Year 2023 Fisher & Donaldson sharing their growth stories.

Past winners have also been invited to join the judge’s panels at Britain’s Best Loaf or Britain’s Best Cake competitions, receiving extra exposure for their respective companies on British Baker whilst rubbing shoulders with other esteemed peers in the industry.

Enter the Baking Industry Awards 2025 today!

Media attention

On the topic of exposure, capturing an award or even being named as a finalist isn’t just something reported on in British Baker. You’ll get substantial press coverage for your brand in local newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV stations – it’s not unheard of for triumphs to garner the attention of national media too.

Last year’s Craft Bakery Business of the Year, Pettigrew Bakeries, was featured in local publication It’s On Cardiff, while Aidan Monks’ second win in the Baker of the Year category was picked up by business news site BBP Media and The Westmorland Gazette. The previous year, New Bakery Product of the Year 2023 champion M’s Bakery secured TV coverage with BBC South and Baker of the Year Tim Goodwin from The Street Bakeshop took local reporters on a behind the scenes tour.

Categories finalists are announced via British Baker articles in August, complete with judges’ comments explaining why each company, individual, or product was shortlisted. Winners are revealed the same night as the awards, with the media buzz continuing in the aftermath.

To help companies share the good news of their award victories, they are supplied with a ‘Make the most of your win’ marketing pack which includes a press release, winner’s logos, and social media assets. Montana Bakery – winner of Bakery Manufacturer of the Year 2024 – was one such firm using these to great effect. It updated both the homepage of its brand website and then banner of its LinkedIn page with award logos.

Honouring team members

With all the hard work and dedication that goes into a successful bakery business, it’s understandable that leaders grab the chance to thank their staff members during a quick winner’s speech on the Baking Industry Awards stage.

The honour can be shared among the team including bringing the gleaming trophy back to a site to serve as a daily reminder to all colleagues of how valuable their contributions are. 

Some businesses opt to go a step further. “We have received a great response from our customers, suppliers, shareholders, and most importantly our hardworking bakery colleagues with whom we have celebrated, recognised, and rewarded as a direct result,” revealed Montana Bakery MD Jonathan Mellows.

Analysis of operations

Giving yourselves the best chance of winning an award start with a well-crafted online entry form, which highlights the star aspects of your business to judges.

To do this, you’ll need to run a fine-tooth comb through your operations – a time-consuming task that can reap benefits regardless of whether you win or not. Catherine Connor, co-founder of Cumbria-based Lovingly Artisan, says it’s all about “trusting the process and learning and developing so you don’t stand still”.

“The questions allow you to think about your bakery, where you are currently, to reflect and focus on your achievements so far and ultimately what your goals and ambitions are for the future,” adds Connor. “We give it a go; when we don’t win, we learn from the experience.”