Tuesday night’s Baking Industry Awards saw WC Rowe’s MD Alan Pearce walk away with the prestigious title of Baker of the Year, in the Vandemoortele-sponsored category.

The 1930s-themed event at the Park Lane Hilton, London was a great success. Darren and Lilia from the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing dazzled the guests when they took to the dance floor to perform three different sets throughout the evening.

Celebrity host for the night Ronnie Corbett kept the audience of 800 entertained with his comedy routine, explaining that, as the son of a baker, he had been brought up in a bakery family, and even dabbles with a bit of home baking himself.


List of the winners:

Baker of the Year, sponsored by Vandemoortele - Alan Pearce, WC Rowe

British Baker Award for Special Achievement - Colin Lomax, Rank Hovis

The Achievement in Bakery Training Award, sponsored by Rich’s - Robert Pashley of Coopland & Son (Scarborough)

The Innovation Award, sponsored by Asda - Genius Gluten-Free Loaf, United Central Bakeries

Bakery Supplier of the Year category, sponsored by Sainsbury’s - Rich Products, Gail Lindsay

The Customer Focus Award, sponsored by BakeMark - Burns the Bread, Terri Petherbridge

In-Store Bakery Award, sponsored by Scobie & McIntosh - Morrisons’ Hilmore Lane store in Grimsby, Steve Mumby

Celebration Cake Maker of the Year, sponsored by renshawnapier - David McClymont, Lightbody Celebration Cakes.

Trainee Baker of the Year, sponsored by Improve and the National Skills Academy - John Ruddock, Coopland & Son (Scarborough)

Artisanal Bread Product of the Year, sponsored by Morrisons - Organic Wild White, Hobbs House Bakery

The Craft Business Award, sponsored by Rank Hovis - The Bread Factory, Tom Molnar

Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year, sponsored by ADM Milling - Kensey Foods, Des Kingsley


For the full story see British Baker’s 11 September issue.