Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry award winner Sara Autton at the Baking Industry Awards 2023

Sara Autton (centre), 2023 recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry award

It’s time to give your bakery hero the recognition they deserve by nominating them for Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry.

Part of the Baking Industry Awards, which take place on Thursday 24 October at the Royal Lancaster in London, the award seeks to recognise someone who has truly made their mark on bakery.

Sponsored by Dèlifrance, the accolade offers British Baker readers the chance to nominate an outstanding individual – someone who has gone above and beyond the boundaries of their paid salary or ownership and has made, or still is making, a special contribution to bakery.

This person will support and encourage others within the sector, and possibly outside of it as well.

Nominate your bakery hero today!

It’s an opportunity for you to honour the inspirational people in the bakery community who consistently strive to make the sector such a wonderful place to be. Tell us about their career highlights and standout achievements so we can surprise them on the night.

“This individual will likely be known to many for the work they do in making the baking industry an even better place to be,” said British Baker editor Amy North. “They could be your boss, colleague, or friend or perhaps they are your mentor. Either way, make sure they get the recognition they deserve by nominating them for this award.”

Know someone that fits this description? The nomination process is simple, easy, and completely free, so why wait? Be sure to nominate them via our dedicated website.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our previous winners:

Sara Autton

Sara has helped to shape the baking industry for future generations, taking an active role in many trade bodies and associations alongside her role at Lesaffre. She has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, one that has spanned nearly five decades during which time she cemented herself as a beacon of expertise. She always gives 110%, according to one colleague, who praised the time and dedication she offered to helping students expand their skills and further their careers.

André Sarafilovic with son Sean at the Baking Industry Awards 2022

André Sarafilovic with son Sean at the Baking Industry Awards 2022

André Sarafilovic

André has enjoyed a long and illustrious career, offering his services to various trade bodies and organisations as well as running a hugely successful business and creating a charity to help give back to the local community. He is described as a trailblazer at Stephens, having grown the business from a few shops in Dunfermline to a much larger one with 14 shops and over 160 convenience partnerships with Co-op, Scotmid, McColl’s and independents.

Neil Woods - BIA Outstanding Contribution winner 2021

Neil Woods

Neil has had a distinguished 60-year career in the baking industry, including work at various craft bakeries as well as an in-store bakery manager in his hometown of Bradford. He spent time at Renshaw as a technical sales demonstrator before joining Ireks Arkady, where he remained for 33 years. He also dedicated time to many trade associations – including the Craft Bakers Association, where he was recently president – and even leant a hand at judging various competitions for British Baker including Britain’s Best Loaf.