Craft Bakery Business of the Year is among the most prestigious prizes that can be won at British Baker’s annual Baking Industry Awards. It goes only to the UK’s absolute crème de la crème – the bakeries that not only create mouthwatering breads and pastries but that do so with an outstanding business model and a troupe of impressive, well-trained staff.
This year, the coveted title went to Grant’s Bakery in Northumberland. A family-owned bakery and patisserie in the village of Corbridge, British Baker said that ‘passion and quality oozes’ out of Grant’s. Judges said: ‘The display, which is visible the second you walk through the doors, is so inviting and the products really deliver on quality and taste with very generous portions’.
The bakes are made at a unit up the road from the main shop, with all the mixing, laminating, piping and decorating done by hand by a team of seven. According to British Baker, customer favourites include the ‘tipsy cake’ made with Madeira cake, rum-flavoured raspberry preserve and fondant icing, the twice-baked almond croissants, the peach melbas and the sausage rolls.
On its website, Grant’s says that it opened with a mission to ‘become the best quality bakery in the North East’. And it seems to be on track – this is the second time in the past five years that it has been named Britain’s Craft Bakery of the Year. To add to its accolades, head baker Andrew Cotterell has created goods for many a prestigious venue, including Gleneagles Hotel, Grosvenor House and even the late Queen’s annual garden party at Holyrood Palace.
Commenting on the win, Alex from Grant’s said: ‘This award means the world to us, it’s a real validation of the care, creativity and consistency our whole team brings to the bakery every day.
‘We’ve poured heart and soul into evolving the business over the past few years, and to be recognised as the UK’s best craft bakery is a moment we’ll never forget. It’s proof that a small, independent bakery in the North can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with anyone.’
Grant’s was up against five other finalists: The Tiny Bakery in Leicester, Lovingly Artisan in Cumbria, Dougies Goodies in Northern Ireland, Coopland and Sons in Scarborough and Biscuiteers in London.
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