Signature Flatbreads bosses Charles and William Eid have triumphed in an awards ceremony that celebrates outstanding individual achievement.

The firm’s joint chief executives won the Entrepreneur of the Year accolade at the Insider Central & East Dealmakers Awards, an event that also recognises the success of corporate finance firms, banks, and funders in the UK.

The brothers, who built up the family business before leaving in 2011 following its acquisition by bakery conglomerate Aryzta, were one of five shortlisted candidates in the category and recognised for their entrepreneurial flair. The business was also named Bakery Manufacturer of the Year in British Baker’s 2017 Baking Industry Awards.

The men returned to Signature Flatbreads in a joint venture with Arytza in 2015, after setting up a flatbread operation on the Indian subcontinent to supply traditional Indian flatbreads to the local population.  

They have since doubled the size of the Signature Flatbreads UK business, returned to full ownership after buying back the Aryzta share earlier this year – and, in 2018, exceeded £100m in annual turnover for the first time.

“Since being brought back into the business, William and Charles have committed to making significant investments to boost productivity, grow 100 new roles, and pledge millions to help meet the rising demand for high-quality, British-made products,” the judges said. “This clearly demonstrates their entrepreneurial flair.”

Charles Eid added: “We are delighted to have been recognised in these awards, which we share with the outstanding team of people at Signature Flatbreads. We are hugely ambitious, and are excited to build on the strong foundation that the company has in place.”

Signature Flatbreads exports to more than 30 countries from the UK and another 20 countries from its bakery in India. Its breads can be found as far afield as Shanghai, Tokyo, South Korea, Australia, Russia, Kenya, throughout Europe and the Middle East and more.