As sales of the ubiquitous cupcake continue to rise, British Baker today launches the search to find Britain’s Best Cupcake Baker 2010.

Cupcake specialist bakeries continue to proliferate, with over 100 already signed up to get involved in National Cupcake Week 2010, which takes place from 13-19 September.

National Cupcake Week celebrates and supports the growth of an industry sector that has spawned a raft of new businesses across the UK and stimulated innovation in what has become a true classic of the cake sector. Cupcake sales are up 16% year-on-year, with volumes up 7% (source: Kantar Worldpanel, April 2010).

Cake specialists, craft and in-store bakeries across the UK are invited to enter the competition to find the nation’s most outstanding cupcake baker. Entrants must already be selling cupcakes commercially.

How to enter

This is an opportunity to let your imagination run free. Last year’s winners included a courgette cupcake, and the overall winner was a retro Black Forest Cupcake by Kevin Sibley of Mama’s Cupcakes. Whether you’re playing around with the cake, the topping or the decorations, do your best to surprise us! But most importantly, don’t forget that, first and foremost, the cake must taste great.

1. Send us the following:

one colour image of the cupcake

your name for the cake

a description of the cake, including ingredients used and sources of inspiration (no more than 100 words)

a synopsis of your business, how long you’ve been trading, who are your customers and why you think you stand out from the crowd (no more than 100 words)

your company name, phone number, email address, location and website url (if appropriate)

2. The cake must be commercially viable that is, you could reasonably expect to sell it in a shop or internet cake delivery business.

3. Only one cupcake entry per baker. We are not looking for a range of cakes. For the final judging process, shortlisted bakers will be expected to deliver a batch of 12 identical cakes and the recipe for their cupcakes.

4. Final judging will take place at a venue in London by a top panel of experts during the first week of August, and entrants must be able to deliver their cupcakes in person or through a delivery service. Seven cupcake bakers’ cakes will be chosen to represent each day of the week and an overall winner will be crowned.

5. Cakes will be judged on creativity, taste, texture and appearance.

6. Closing date is 16 July. Shortlisted bakers will be contacted by 30 July. Winners will be announced on 13 August.

Please send entries to cupcakes@william-reed.co.uk or Cupcake Competition, British Baker, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex RH11 9RT

For more event information, a comprehensive list of cupcake bakers and an exclusive Cosmopolitan Cupcake recipe from reigning champion Kevin Sibley, visit: www.nationalcupcakeweek.co.uk or contact cupcakes@william-reed.co.uk

For quirky cupcake news, visit the official National Cupcake Week Facebook page: www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=58988088047

Follow @CupcakeWeek on Twitter.

National Cupcake Week sponsors

Renshaw supplies a range of high-quality food ingredients, primarily to the bakery sector comprising craft bakers and major cake manufacturers and also to grocery retailers. It is a leading manufacturer of marzipans, ready-to-roll icings, soft icings, baking chocolate, caramels, mallow and jams.
www.renshaw-nbf.co.uk

Chevler is the UK’s leading manufacturer of baking cases and muffin wraps. The company is synonymous with quality and innovation, ensuring that its customers consistently add value to their cupcakes and muffins in order to keep them one step ahead of competitors. With over 500 sizes of crimped and special cases in its range, Chevler has a baking case for you.
www.chevler.co.uk
Supported by

BFP Wholesale is Britain’s only national bakery wholesaler with thousands of customers nationwide. BFP Wholesale will be on hand to supply everything the keen cupcake maker needs from mixes to flour, sugar, icings, toppings, decorations and cases. In fact, ’all the right ingredients’ to dazzle consumers with their baking skills, creativity and artistic flair.
www.bfpwholesale.com

High street homewares specialist Robert Dyas is the first retailer to back National Cupcake Week, with the company reporting a surge in sales of baking products. It sells 500 cupcake stands per week and sales in its bakeware category are 20% up on last year. Robert Dyas will be featuring the logo throughout its national chain of stores, with activities and promotions planned for the week.
www.robertdyas.co.uk