Inverness-based Harry Gow Bakery has become the first business to win the title of Scottish Baker of the Year for the second time.

The family-run firm won the first ever Scottish Baker of the Year title when it launched in 2012, and picked up the coveted trophy again at the awards dinner this weekend (8 June).

Harry Gow also won a raft of other awards including retail craft baker of the year, best individual cake in Scotland for its Birthday Cake Slice, and best savoury in Scotland for its Chicken Curry Pie. The winner is determined following voting by more than 8,000 bakery customers, and blind judging by 50 industry professionals.

“We are delighted, absolutely delighted,” said managing director David Gow.

“We work hard every day to create products that our customers think are worthy of a vote in this competition. Year after year we take home prizes for the quality of our products; but this title reflects on us as a business, so we are beyond pleased to be taking the title back to Inverness one more time.”

Gow thanked its customers for voting and for buying its products, and praised the Harry Gow team for their hard work and dedication.

“As a family business we are all in it together and we could not have done it without you all.”

Alasdair Smith of Scottish Bakers, which organises the competition, said the trade body was delighted to give bakers the chance to shine and showcase their products.

“But I have to take my hat off to Harry Gow Bakery, to excel in so many of the categories and then to present a compelling business case to the final judges is remarkable, they should be very proud.”

The awards are presented as part of the Scottish Bakers annual conference in Glasgow, where it was this week announced a new grant scheme was being launched for independent bakery businesses.