Glamour, smiles, and celebration were abundant at the Baking Industry Awards 2025, which took place at the Royal Lancaster in London on Thursday 23 October.
The event sold out six weeks in advance, with 600 people in the room to celebrate the best of the best in the baking industry. Among the crowds was representation from major retailers to the nation’s biggest manufacturers, brands, and suppliers, craft bakeries and everyone in between.
The night got under way with a drinks reception, sponsored by UK Food & Drink Shows, as attendees gathered in excitement for the night ahead.
Progressing into the ballroom, the evening truly got under way with an upbeat speech from British Baker editor Amy North who thanked the industry for their continued dedication and innovation, as well as sharing a few tales of her recent bakery adventures, including a few days in Copenhagen. She also shared the news of British Baker’s 140th anniversary, encouraging guests to raise a glass to the brand and the industry’s hard work over the past 14 decades.
The excitement continued to build with a lavish three-course meal. Kicking things off were a selection of delicious bread rolls from AIT Ingredients, followed by a lobster & salmon scotch egg, accompanied by slices of Jason’s Sourdough. Herb-crusted lamb with buttery rosti Delmonico and ratatouille followed, with a delightful lemon meringue tart to finish served on a Breton shortbread base from Panzani Solutions. Guests rounded off the experience with Canal Grande Filter coffee, kindly provided by Lavazza.
Celebrity host Alex Jones then took to the stage, regaling guests with tales of her culinary and baking mishaps, including some time on The Great Celebrity Bake Off. The ceremony truly got under way after that as Jones, accompanied by category sponsors, helped reveal the winners across 14 categories including Bakery Retailer of the Year, Rising Star, and Bakery Manufacturer of the Year.
Rademaker sales manager, UK & Ireland, Chris Drew and celebrity host Alex Jones present the Rising Star Award to Emily Anderson from Cooplands
Mark Bennett (centre) grins while clutching the Speciality Bread Product of the Year award next to Bako CEO Mike Tully and Alex Jones
Wildfarmed founder Ed Lees collects the first of two trophies of the night – this one for Bakery Brand of the Year which is presented by category sponsor Craggs & Co’s Stephen Craggs
Bako CEO Mike Tully takes another turn on the stage, this time to collect the Supplier of the Year trophy from presenter Alex Jones
Baker & Baker CEO Matthew Acheson presents Mark Bennett with his second trophy of the night, this time the New Bakery Product of the Year award for a Dirty Chai, Chocolate & Pistachio Babka
A stunned Andrew Cotterell, owner of Grant’s Bakery, collects the Craft Bakery Business of the Year trophy from Dawn Foods sales director Garry Russell and celebrity presenter Alex Jones
Fritsch Bakery Technologies sale manager Paul Johnson presents the Bakery Manufacturer of the Year award to Geary’s Bakeries’ head of engineering Mark Clifford and marketing & sales director Barry Dawber
Mike Williams from Flake Bake stands in for friend and fellow business owner Ryan Panchoo, owner of Borough 22 which claimed the Free-From Bakery Product of the Year award for its Original Vanilla Bean Glaze Doughnuts
Ed Lees takes to the stage for a second time to collect the Sustainability Initiative of the Year trophy from Yvette Wild, head of retail, bakery & OTG at category sponsor Macphie and Alex Jones
IRCA Group’s head of sales Alessandro Crespi presents the Online Bakery Business of the Year trophy to a very surprised Rachel Hanretty, founder of Mademoiselle Macaron
Gail’s managing director Nick Ayerst collects the Bakery Retailer of the Year award from IFF commercial manager Vincent Mathys and Alex Jones
Lisa Smith, owner of Ginger Bakers, collects the Team of the Year trophy on behalf of everyone back at the bakery in Kendal, Cumbria from Lavazza marketing director Filippo Ferrari and Alex Jones
A joyous and glamourous Tona Erreguin from Imma the Bakery proudly clutches the Baker of the Year award, presented by Brook Food & Bakery Equipment sales director, Mike Moran and Alex Jones
A very dapper Peter Wenzel stands proud with his award for Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry, presented by UK & Ireland commercial director at Délifrance, Richard Freeman and Alex Jones
With the winners proudly clutching their trophies, dining tables were cleared away to make way for the dancefloor so the celebrations could continue. As well as throwing shapes on the dance floor, there were plenty of moves on show in the 360-degree photo booth courtesy of Eurostar Commodities, Rise Re:Gen Flour. A casino, sponsored by Kluman & Balter, also kept guests entertained as they received an envelope of play money which could be exchanged for chips.
All that excitement likely worked up an appetite but thankfully Panzani Solutions was on hand with sweet and savoury focaccia to keep the revellers powered up.
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