Baking Industry Awards 2024: Aidan Monks lifts Baker of the Year title for second time

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Lovingly Artisan owner Aidan Monks has been crowned Baker of the Year for the second time, taking the prestigious title this year ahead of three other highly talented finalists.

The category honours individuals with an incredible passion for bakery who are able to demonstrate top-notch skills and produce outstanding baked goods for customers across the UK.

Winner: 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 which, like Aidan, continues to rack up the accolades including being named the best artisan bakery in Britain for the second year running as well as claiming Retailer of the Year at the Farm Shop & Deli Awards 2024.

“Every award previously won is treasured,” he explains, “yet the best achievement is the queues… our devoted customers queue consistently and patiently because they love and appreciate the loaves.”

Aidan keep a hands-on role in production and helps build relationships with suppliers and customers. He insists his favourite time is being in the bakery. “We are in the key stages of growth so it’s vital to share, teach and mentor my team during their shifts. Quality control is never at the end of the bake, it’s consistent throughout the bake,” he says.

Sourdough remains a core part of the bakery’s product line-up, but innovative new products are also coming through such as the Northern Bliss-cuits. There are also plans in the work to open a dedicated yeasted bakery for wholesale and pastries.

Lovingly Artisan has also progressed to the next chapter in its journey which includes gearing up to open a new location complete with on-site mill and a partnership with a local farm to grow rye for its loaves. Aidan is the driving force behind this, although is keen to share the praise with his wife Catherine and their wider team.

It was his passion and continuous drive for improvement which saw him secure the title for a second time. The judges lauded his “outstanding” output, noting that he takes responsibility for everything, every day. “The products are as usual, very good,” added one judge.

Aidan also joins the exclusive club of two-time winners of Baker of the Year, which includes last year’s champion Tim Goodwin of The Street Bakeshop in Hampshire. 

Finalist: Gary Kadas, Seven Seeded Artisan Bakery

As head of production at Seven Seeded in London, Gary’s primary responsibility is to ensure its products are the best on the market particularly with such a discerning customer base comprised of Michelin Star chefs, restaurateurs, and hotels.

He is responsible for a team of 22 bakers, 15 pastry chefs, and 14 packers – many of whom had never baked before joining the business. Gary says imparting his knowledge and seeing the team blossom into skilled bakers delivering great products is among his greatest achievements. He has also been instrumental in the impressive growth of Seven Seeded which has increased its capacity exponentially over the last two years and rolled out a host of new products.

To find inspiration for NPD Gary says he is constantly visiting the newest bakeries across the country.

Gary’s impact on improving products and expanding the customer base is “commendable”, noted the judges, who also praised his hands-on skills and ability to deliver top-notch products while building an excellent team around him.

Finalist: Sandor Bagameri, Stir Bakery

Sandor is described as a ‘constant, visible presence’ at Cambridge-based Stir Bakery where he can be found every day with his apron on making a variety of baked goods. As head of bakery operations, his impact on the business and team is immeasurable, and he has recruited all but two of the 24-strong bakery team.

Stir’s revenue has more than doubled since Sandor joined and the product range has grown to more than 120 different items with up to 3,000 units a day leaving its production bakery – all overseen, and in some cases personally produced, by him. He has also been instrumental in securing new wholesale customers and deepening relationships with existing ones.

Sandor is described by the judges as “a great finalist who has shown expansion and further innovation in his speciality ranges since last year” when he was also a finalist in the category. His products are “outstanding” with the Sprouted Grain Sourdough described as “phenomenal” (something recognised by the judges on the Speciality Bread Product of the Year as well).

Finalist: Tomas Martin, 4Eyes Bakery

Tomas is the man behind Britain’s Best Loaf 2024 – a Garlic & Rosemary Deep Pan Focaccia. He described winning the trophy ahead of ‘such talented people’ as ‘truly astonishing’ but his achievements go far beyond that. As head baker and bakery manager at 4Eyes Bakery, he’s been a driving force of its growth from a small independent bakery at a food hall in Chesterfield into a flourishing wholesale supplier, flying the flag for its artisanal, long fermentation bread offering.

As the business expands, Tomas has been keen to ensure the artisanal skills remain without the need for ‘heavy machinery’ and that the quality of the end products is maintained. As well as being a hands-on baker, he is also helping two bakery apprentices on their journey with the hope of instilling passion and skills into them to drive the business and industry forward.

He is also passionate about regenerative farming and is working hard to improve the sustainability credentials of 4Eyes Bakery.

Tomas “oozes passion, knows his subject very well, and shows great attention to detail” said the judges, who commended his products and the development process used to create them.