Bristol bakery Pinkmans is to sell doughnuts and savoury buns at two Japanese fairs.

The bakery has been selected to represent Britain at ‘Best of British’ fairs, being held by high-end department store Hankyu in Tokyo and Osaka.

Hankyu’s annual events are designed to celebrate British creativity and innovation, with other attendees including fish and chip shops, piemakers and UK brands such as Peter Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. The fairs take place between 5 and 20 October.

Pinkmans is sending two bakers – head baker Michael Engler and food & beverage manager Eddie Pérez – who will bake and fill the firm’s signature sour-dough-nuts and mini savoury buns at a pop-up bakery.

The business was selected after Hankyu approached trade body the British Sandwich Association (BSA) looking to work with an award-winning sandwich shop. Pinkmans won a Sammies Award in 2018.

“It’s a real honour to be invited to Hankyu’s British Fair in Japan,” said Pinkmans founder Steven Whibley.

“Since winning a Sammies award, we have enjoyed the national recognition and we are now looking forward to showcasing Pinkmans internationally. This is such a fantastic opportunity for our bakers and a really wonderful opportunity to put Bristol on the international culinary map.”

Whibley, who has previously worked at Le Pain Quotidien and Gail’s, founded Pinkmans in 2015.

“Pinkmans is fundamentally a British bakery with a wonderful unique twist, creating very special bread, sandwiches and cakes,” said a spokesman for the BSA. “We are confident the Japanese are going to love this wonderful West Country bakery.”