The baking industry converged on London on Monday 18 September 2006, as British Baker held its 19th annual Baking Industry Awards. The event took place in the Great Room at the swanky Grosvenor House hotel on Park Lane, a room used as an ice-skating rink in yesteryear. On the guest list were well-known faces from all the major plant bakeries, millers, leading supermarkets, bakery trade bodies and suppliers. Celebrities also skated in to enjoy the event. Irish bakery Irwin’s brought chef Paul Rankin, the man behind its successful Rankin’s brand, to the event. He enjoyed the glitzy evening alongside celebrity chef Ross Burden and TV baker Paul Hollywood. In a promotion sponsored by supplier Dawn Foods, guests found disposable cameras on the tables. Diners could also win hampers, provided by Allied Bakeries. And, in a new twist, a mime artist entertained guests between courses. Then it was onto the main event, as TV and radio presenter Jeremy Vine took to the stage. Next it was the turn of the 33 nervous finalists in the 11 categories of the Baking Industry Awards to enjoy the limelight. After the awards, guests enoyed more entertainments, including live band The Sharp Cuts, a Cereform-sponsored casino, and a Puratos chocolate fountain. The winners of the Baking Industry Awards 2006 were: (sponsors in parentheses) Baker of the Year (Vandemoortele) Winner: Trevor Mooney Company: Arthur Chatwin The In-Store Bakery Award (Macphie) Winner: Andrew Wright Company: Wm Morrison Supermarkets The Marketing Award (Asda) Winner: Lindsay Williams Company: Bells of Lazonby Bakery Supplier of the Year (Sainsbury’s) Winner: Andy Hooper Company: British Bakels Celebration Cake Maker of the Year (Renshaw) Winner: Karen Bowden Company: Slattery Patissier & Chocolatier Plant Production Manager of the Year (Zeelandia) Winner: Andrew Trevis Company: Brace’s Bakery Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year (ADM) Winner: Stephen Fudge Company: Fudges, Dorset Village Bakery The Customer Focus Award (BakeMark UK) Winner: Martin Lightbody Company: Lightbody Celebration Cakes Healthy Bakery Concept of the Year (Tesco) Winner: Honey and Yogurt Wheaten Company: Genesis Breads The Craft Bakery Award (Rank Hovis) Winner: David Smart Company: Greenhalgh’s Craft Bakery Student Baker of the Year (British Sugar) Winner: Eileen Goodrick Company: Tameside College The British Baker Special Award Winner: Jean Grieves For details on the Baking Industry Awards 2007 please contact Nicola.Chesson@william-reed.co.uk; tel: 01293 867629

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