Chris Ormrod, managing director of Taunton-based Ministry of Cake, has told British Baker that he expects the company to start exporting to China “within the year”.

He has just returned from a fact-finding trip to China, where he spent seven days meeting with importers and distributors, as well as local bakeries.

Ormrod said of the trip: “It’s such a different world out there, and I now feel that we understand it far better. Everything that I discovered out there really sparked my interest. We will begin exporting to China within the year, in all likelihood.”

In February, Ministry of Pudding spent around £500,000 on new equipment, ahead of fresh product releases later in the year.