n Shopping centre café operator BB’s Coffee and Muffins has launched a Christmas menu including Cranberry & White Chocolate Muffins, and Christmas Crumble, which is a muffin mixed with mincemeat. There is also a Ginger Reindeer Biscuit and a Cranberry Flapjack. Christmas baguette fillings include: turkey breast, salad & cranberry; Brie, lettuce and cranberry; and sage and onion stuffing with salad.

n Erkens Bakkerijen, a subsidiary of Kamps Nederland BV, has been taken over by the Belgian Vandemoortele Group. The Dutch firm produces and sells frozen patisserie products in Germany, the UK, France, Spain and the Benelux, under the brand names E&E Patisserie and Erkens Bakkerijen BV.

n Atlas Food Processing Systems is celebrating 60 years in the baking industry. The company specialises in the design, engineering and installation of bulk materials handling systems.

n Pearce’s Bakery has closed its shop after 141 years of baking. Famous for its saffron cakes and Cornish tuffs, the bakery shop was based in Kelly Bray, a village in Cornwall. Michael Pearce, the fourth generation of Pearce bakers, aged 67, made the tough decision.

n Bakers are invited to enter Bakery Sandwich Shop of the Year Award 2007, which will be presented at the British Sandwich Industry Awards on 17 May 2007, organised by the British Sandwich Association. Entries will be judged on factors such as presentation, atmosphere, cleanliness and product range.

To enter call 01291 636341 or email pam@jandmgroup.co.uk