Bakeries from Derbyshire, Cornwall, Cumbria and Essex have been selected as finalists in the Baker category at the 2020 Farm Shop & Deli Awards.

The four-strong shortlist comprises:

  • Ashbourne Bakehouse, Derbyshire
  • Baker Tom’s Bread, Cornwall
  • Mayfield Farm Bakery, Essex
  • Lovingly Artisan, Cumbria (pictured), winner of the 2019 bakery category

Spanning 12 categories – including butcher, cheesemonger, food hall and village store/local shop –the awards celebrate the best in speciality retail.

“Hard work, long hours, a dedication to artisan quality, to service and locality – these are the tenets that set the ‘great’ apart from the simply good,” said broadcaster and journalist Nigel Barden, who headed up the judging panel.

“Each year the bar is raised in terms of quality, making the judging process and deliberation over the shortlist so difficult. I’m delighted to have had such a high-calibre team of fellow judges to help create what we now consider to be the defining class of 2020.”

Barden was joined by British Baker deputy editor Amy North, fresh foods reporter at The Grocer Henry Sandercock, Richard Nicholson from Cannon Hall Farm Shop – 2019’s Retailer of the Year – and president of the National Federation of Fishmongers, among others.

The winners will be announced on Monday 30 March at the Farm Shop & Deli Show at Birmingham’s NEC.

Also taking place at the NEC that day is Britain’s Best Loaf, organised by British Baker. The 2020 competition, sponsored by ADM, American Pan UK and Scobie McIntosh/Revent will take place at the Foodex show.