Bako Western held its annual trade show and hosted the Western Bakery Championships at its base in Cullompton Devon recently. Sixty-one suppliers exhibited on the day, while visitors and their families also enjoyed a hog roast, ice cream and face painting which was laid on for them. The event coincided with Bako Western’s 50th anniversary, with a free prize draw held 50 x £50 Bako Western credits were up for grabs, as well as gifts donated by suppliers.

The bakery competitions, supported by bread improvers firm Gb Plange, featured 50 classes, with the newly honoured western region president and Bako Western sales manager Chris Wreford and National Association of Master Bakers president Clive Williams on hand to award the prizes. Winners included Williams of Wool, which took the West Country Specialities Championship title. St Austell-based Martins Bakery won the Open Bread Championship and Open Confectionery Championship, while Andrew Fudge of The Upper Crust Bakery, Taunton, took the top spot in the Best Loaf in Show class.