Baking Industry Awards 2025: Bako triumphs as first-ever Supplier of the Year

Supplier of the Year, a brand-new category for the Baking Industry Awards 2025, recognises the continued hard work and support of the suppliers that help keep the industry running efficiently and the nation’s daily bread (or hard-earned treats) on the table.

Winner: Bako

By bakers for bakers – that’s the Bako motto. It was the living breathing representation of this ethos, present throughout Bako’s operations, which has seen it crowned the first-ever Supplier of the Year.

Its “longstanding commitment and influential role within the baking industry’ was commended by the judges, who praised Bako for showing a “deep understanding of the sector’s constantly evolving needs”.

Founded in 1964, the business now operates four strategically located sites in Preston, Durham, and London as well as one in Ireland following its acquisition of Finlay’s Foods. The latter was the firm’s biggest achievement of last year, something it described as a ‘pivotal step’ in transforming Bako into a fully UK and Ireland-wide supplier. The additional production capabilities on items such as jams and mincemeats allow Bako ‘better quality control, to improve availability, shorten lead times, and bring NPD to market faster’, it noted.

Its fleet of vehicles cover three million miles annually, delivering a product range of more than 3,000 SKUs to 4,000 customers across the UK and Ireland. Nearly 40% of its volume comes from the Bako Select own-label range, including ingredients, bake-off lines, and more.

The supplier boasts a fulfilment rate of above 99.5%, which it said is a result of ‘best-in-class systems including voice-pick technology, standardised processes across sites, and ERP integration’.

Bako’s customers describe the service as “phenomenal” and “exceptional” with one adding that “there is always support when we need it”. Supporting bakeries of all sizes, another customer adds that Bako “always goes the extra mile” to ensure goods are delivered on time, with its technical support described as “invaluable”. The constant innovation seen throughout the product launches, and the know how to help bakers make the most of it, was also a highlight.

When it comes to sustainability, Bako insists it is ’not an afterthought – it’s embedded into our business strategy’. The business said it is actively reducing its environmental footprint while enhancing its efficiency, pointing to the use of solar panels in Preston and Durham sites, rainwater harvesting, fleet upgrades, and more; all of which are underpinned by a ‘clear roadmap that aligns with customer needs, legislative changes, and global best practice’.

The judges were impressed with what Bako has to offer, highlighting “the level of energy put into every aspect of the business”, from investments in efficiency to supporting the future of the industry, and steps on its sustainability journey.

Finalist: Brook Food & Bakery Equipment

Brook Food & Bakery Equipment said it is more than an equipment provider – the business’ ethos is ‘make friends in the bakery industry, and we are there when our friends need us’. As such, the team pride themselves on only supplying machinery when it is required, even if it means no sale.

Operating from its main premises in Somerset, which houses over 3,000 pieces of machinery, it supplies new and second-hand equipment as well as turnkey solutions from consultation to installation and after sales. This site is supported by a depot in northern England as well as an office in Melbourne, Australia, and Washington in the US.

The acquisition of a competitor in the used equipment space (which allowed Brook to open the northern depot) and a new website were among the highlights over the past year. It has also made progress on sustainability with the gas and electric ovens at its test bakery replaced with wood pellet fuelled ones, swapped some vehicles to electric ones, and start its solar power journey.

“Brook are more than equipment suppliers, they nurture us too,” said one artisanal customer, while another added that it “couldn’t have got anywhere without Brook’s support and expertise. It’s a similar story with larger customers as well, as one plant baker said Brook has played a “significant role” in its impressive growth journey.

“Brook clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to its customers,” commented the judges, praising the firm’s “hands on approach” and “dedication to the baking industry”.

Finalist: Edme Ingredients

Edme has been a specialist in malted ingredients for over 140 years. Operating from a three-acre site in Mistley, Essex, the supplier runs extensive grain processing operations, including cleaning, pearling, flaking, kibbling, milling, and mixing, as well as a dedicated gluten-free mill. From here it supplies bakeries across the UK and internationally with a range of ingredients from enzyme-active flours, malted and roasted flours, flaked and cut grains, seed mixes, and custom blends.

It boasts a 98% on-time delivery rate, adding that alongside products it supports customers with ‘continuous technical support, product testing, and consultation’. Edme said one of its biggest achievement over the past year was the launch of Artisan Pantry – a brand focused on the craft bakery market and premium artisan ingredients. Prior to this, it believed it has ‘lost touch’ with smaller bakers and, as such, has created a range to meet their needs. This has also inspired the firm’s national and plant bakery customers, ‘further strengthening those relationships’.

One such customer described Edme as a “top quality supplier with brilliant customer service team”, while another said Edme’s “willingness to go the extra mile sets a benchmark for all suppliers”.

The launch of the Artisan Pantry was described by the panel as a “significant milestone” for Edme, demonstrating its commitment to supporting players of all sizes in the industry. The “outstanding” testimonials from customers show the business “is on the right path and truly making a difference”.

Finalist: Williams Refrigeration

Williams Refrigeration specialises in the manufacture and supply of high-performance commercial refrigeration equipment. Over 40 years of supporting the foodservice and baking industries, it has forged a reputation built on ‘innovation, dependable service, and a thorough understanding of bakers’ needs’. This is spearheaded by its head office team in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

The business supplies to bakeries of all shapes and sizes, from small-scale artisan bakers to larger, commercial operations, as well as well-known high street brands, and supermarket chains.

Over the past year it has developed and launched several new and improved products, with a modular dough retarder prover (DRP) a particular highlight thanks to its ‘innovative design focusing on improved serviceability, energy efficiency, and sustainability’. It also developed a Crystal range of bakery cabinets, including retarders, provers, and freezers.

One customer, which has installed the DRP at several of its sites, praised the “operational efficiency and product quality alongside the superb sustainability benefits”. “We’ve recorded no breakdowns on the assets over the past 13 months,” they said, adding, “reliability is at 100%.”

The judges were impressed with the innovation delivered by Williams Refrigeration and the sustainability benefits this is delivering for its customers. “The focus on customer needs and driving solutions is admirable,” they commented.