Shropshire-based Billington’s Gingerbread is to launch its new packaging today (28 June).

Billington’s staff dressed in traditional costume and hosted a gingerbread and port tasting event in Market Drayton this morning to mark the launch of the revamped products.

Local business Tanners Wine Merchants collaborated with Billington’s and provided the port for the event, as “dunking gingerbread in port is a tradition which dates back to the 19th century, when the farmers’ wives of Market Drayton used to enjoy ‘dunking’ their gingerbread in port on market day,” according to the gingerbread company.

One of Billington’s bakers, Tim Hopcroft, said: “We are delighted to be manufacturing Billington’s Gingerbread for sale in Market Drayton and the surrounding areas.

“Using the handed-down secret Billington’s Gingerbread recipe, we have developed the method for manufacturing in our modern bakery, to create a biscuit which is consistent to the original product while also being recognisable to its fan base. We hope that it will be enjoyed locally as well as nationally in due course.”