Get to know the Team of the Year 2026 finalists

Thanks to our category sponsors

Teams ranging in size from six people to more than 200 are among the finalists of the Team of the Year category this year.

Judges of this category, which is sponsored by Coperion, were looking for solid examples of teamwork that drive success, growth, and efficiency for the business, and examined how the team communicates to achieve common goals and how they work together to upskill individual members and the team as a whole.

Here are the teams who have made the final six:

Imma Group

The 14-strong team at Imma the Bakery in Stoke Row, South Oxfordshire, have helped transform the business into an efficient operation with organised production and disciplined workflows. But the business said the teams’ biggest contribution is allowing Imma to carry more complexity without becoming generic or impersonal. “The team works well because people understand that their own roles fit within a wider rhythm,” explained Imma. “Responsibilities are clear, but they don’t build walls. When the queue is heavy, production people jump in. When production is under pressure, hands appear.”

Customers do not only come for bread and pastries, said the business, they come for the warmth of the counter, the confidence of the staff and the sense that the people behind the work care about what they are making. Imma’s social media gives an honest glimpse of the culture. One viral video made light of people’s biggest mistakes: using salt instead of sugar, saying “love you” to a customer, and burning a whole batch of products.

Judges described the bakery as an inspirational business that feels more like a family than a group of employees: “They are incredibly supportive and proud of what they do,” was one of the comments. 

Lovingly Artisan

Cumbia-based Lovingly Artisan is built around several specialist teams operating across different locations – including a yeasted bakery, a sourdough bakery, and a Bread Store – each with clearly defined leadership, responsibilities, and working rhythms. Together, the teams reflect a rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences with ages ranging from 16 to 74.

The business explained that although each bakery and retail environment functions differently, all teams share the same commitment to craftsmanship, quality, safety, customer care, and continuous development.

The 54 staff play a vital role in shaping the quality of products and the experience customers receive, said Lovingly Artisan, with every individual contributing to the journey of the loaf, from grain to customer. An example of the genuine ‘roll up your sleeves’ attitude was during the integration of flour production into bakery operations, when retail teams enthusiastically supported the wrapping and packing.

Team spirit is encouraged both in and out of the workplace. From Sunday walks and pizza evenings to seasonal celebrations and community events, these moments strengthen trust, communication, and morale to create a positive and motivated culture.

Judges said Lovingly Artisan showed a great sense of teamwork and passion for their work.

Ruby’s Bakery

Sussex-based Ruby’s Bakery is run by family members who each lead a core area of the business including operations, sales, production, and HR. They are supported by a committed team who share their values and take pride in the business and their own career development. Ruby’s is particularly proud of its low staff turnover, and explained that when a team member moves on, it is typically for positive personal reasons such as travel or career progression, rather than dissatisfaction. Several key members of the team have been with the business for nearly 20 years.

“Our team demonstrate exceptional dedication and commitment on a daily basis,” said Ruby’s. “Their willingness to go above and beyond is something we greatly value and take pride in, and the level of teamwork and initiative is reflective of the culture we have built.” The business added that staff are encouraged to feel comfortable speaking with any member of the management team, and that great importance is placed on minimising hierarchy in day-to-day interactions to ensuring communication remains open, honest, and accessible at all levels.

Judges were impressed with how members of the Ruby’s team pull together to succeed, and how staff were empowered to make suggestions to improve efficiency and performance.

Seven Seeded

Watford-based Seven Seeded has grown from a small artisan bakery into a 24-hour wholesale business that employs 110 staff and supplies more than 800 cafés, restaurants, hotels, and retailers across London. “Everything is delivered with care, consistency and charm,” said the company. “We often say a pilot cannot fly without his engine, and that is exactly how we see the bakery. Every member of the team is a valued part of the machinery that keeps Seven Seeded moving every minute of every day.”

Seven Seeded added that nobody is viewed as more important than anybody else because every stage contributes to the final product leaving the building. “We are a modern business, but deeply rooted in traditional values, and still believe the strongest form of communication is face to face – the bakery floor is alive with conversation from the moment the first teams arrive at 4am through to the final handovers later in the evening.”

Judges loved the passion and pride shown by the business, and one commented: “I like the hands-on approach of management, with offices located on the production floor.”

Two Magpies Bakery

A culture of mutual respect and support is central to Two Magpies Bakery, with the business striving to create a positive environment where every member of the 215-strong team feels valued. “This ranges from taking accountability in our roles to recognising and celebrating individual achievements – whether that’s progress in training or successfully scaling up recipes from trial stages,” explained the East Anglia-based firm.

Two Magpies prioritises in-person meetings over virtual calls, and each month dedicates a full day to meet with café managers to review business performance, share updates on growth and strategy, and discuss successes and areas for improvement. Team members take ownership on the areas where they work, which includes cleanliness in between shifts and ordering of ingredients for the next shift and stock rotation of ingredients. They are also supportive of their colleagues: “If team members complete their daily tasks ahead of schedule they will jump on another team member’s job to help them to complete their tasks.”

Judges were impressed by the enthusiasm of the production team, particularly around innovation, and also by the cooperation between team members.

Wildfarmed

The six-person Wildfarmed Grocery team may be small but has created a scaled bakery brand built on regeneratively farmed wheat. They have taken what was a B2B business, selling regeneratively farmed flour to bakeries and restaurants, and expanded it into a brand sold through retailers including Waitrose, Tesco and Ocado.

The team said it operates on a simple principle that no job is too big or too small for anyone: Andy, head of grocery, will help pack influencer boxes while commercial manager Joe will run to the post office to send coupons, and the wider team is out in stores taking pictures of shelves and restocking.

“When we hear ‘that won’t work’ or ‘that’s impossible’, we don’t accept it – we go for it and work really hard to find a solution. Developing market leading SKUs in eight months when everyone said it couldn’t be done? We did it. Landing Tesco in our first year? We did it.”

The Wildfarmed HQ is in central London, and the core team gets together for a minimum of two days per week, during which it holds key team meetings and project updates, and engages with the wider Wildfarmed team.

“The buzz of being part of something genuinely pioneering – transforming how wheat is farmed and how bread is made – creates an energy that’s impossible not to catch; it’s the heartbeat of our team.”

Judges loved the enthusiasm and passion of the team and were impressed with its strong commercial performance.