Bakery owner named 2019 winner of The Apprentice

Bakery owner Carina Lepore was ‘hired’ by Lord Sugar in the final of the 15^th series of The Apprentice last night (18 December).

The 30-year-old, self-described ‘pocket rocket’, beat recruitment expert Scarlett Allen-Horton to win a £250,000 investment from the business mogul.

Lepore runs a family bakery in Herne Hill, London, called Dough Artisan Bakehouse, alongside her sister Rachelle and her father, Carlo, who is the master baker.

Menu items available at the bakery include wholemeal, multiseed and spelt loaves, as well as white and wholemeal sourdough, Irish soda bread and focaccia. There are also peanut butter brownies, cookies, apple strudel and vegan flapjacks, which are served alongside a range of hot and cold drinks.

The final challenge saw both contestants rebrand their respective businesses, produce adverts and pitch to a team of leading industry experts – including British Baker deputy editor Amy North – at London’s City Hall. Other panellists included Hannah Squirrel, customer and marketing director at Greggs, Romy Miller from Gail’s Bakery and Andy Murray from The Artisan Bakery.

Lepore pitched her business as Lepore’s Artisan Bakehouse and, during the interview process, admitted she’d like to see one on every high street in the UK.

She said on The Apprentice You’re Hired: “It is amazing – it’s an incredible feeling.”

Lord Sugar added: “I’m attracted to this business because they’re actually making something – there’s an actual product. I’m looking forward to having branches in the area so that we can expand… and use the bakery as the hub.”

This isn’t the first bakery business Lord Sugar has invested in. In 2016, Alana Spencer was crowned winner of The Apprentice, receiving an investment for her luxury cake brand Ridiculously Rich by Alana. Earlier this year, Spencer bought Lord Sugar out of the business.