SCOTTISH Bakers has announced the names of the final six bakers shortlisted for the ultimate accoldade, the title of SCOTTISH BAKER OF THE YEAR 2013:
Harry Gow – Inverness
Stephens the Bakers – Dunfermline
Brownings the Bakers – Kilmarnock
Border Biscuits – Motherwell
Macleans Highland Bakery – Forres
Cuckoos Bakery – Edinburgh
Each of the six finalsts have already been recognised by their customers and a panel of expert judges as producing some of the BEST products in Scotland following an intense judging day in Dunfermline last month.
Following the judges taste tests, all of the regional winners were judged on a national level and a total of 24 bakers were put forward for the main prize.
Each of these bakers were then asked to submit a business case for why their bakery is the best in the land and each baker has also been subjected to a panel interview by independent business judges including James Withers, CEO of Scotland Food and Drink, David Lonsdale, assistant director, CBI Scotland and Mike Tully, CEO Bako Northern and Scotland.
The bakers will now complete video interviews for the judges to make their decision on who will be crowned Scottish Baker of the Year 2013.
Paul Hollywood, artisan baker and TV presenter, will announce the winner and present them with their prize, a specially-commissioned silver rolling pin at this year’s Scottish Baker of the Year Awards, at a prestigious ceremony in Glasgow on 18th May.
15,000 customers from Stranraer to Shetland voted for their best bakery products during March and the top products in each of the six categories were baked and delivered to Dunfermline on 10th April.
All products were then judged a panel of independent experts led by artisan baker, Robert Ross, and including retired master bakers with extensive experience of the bakery sector in Scotland.
The panel professionally judged some 300 items shortlisted in the six categories: breads, scones, individual cakes, savouries, morning rolls and new category biscuits, to decide who bakes the best products in Scotland.
Each category has been divided into three regions, covering Northern, Central and Southern Scotland. Within each category, the judges will award regional Gold, Silver and Bronze awards and all our shortlisted bakers will be invited to the awards ceremony in May where they will find out what colour their regional award will be.
The final results will remain a closely guarded secret until 18thMay when Paul will announce the results and also name the Scottish Baker of the Year 2013, a crown currently held by Harry Gow.
But for now, each of our six bakers can take pride in their place as one of the best bakers in the land.
Chief executive of Scottish Bakers, Alan Clarke, said: “We have been delighted by the response from customers and from bakers for this year’s competition.
“It highlights the fantastic work that bakers do day in and day out across Scotland.
“We are delighted to highlight and promote this work and I am confident that any one of our six shortlisted finalists will make a worthy winner for 2013.”
For more information please contact Julie Fourcade on 07958 736056 julie@fourcade.co.uk
Editors Note
Scottish Bakers was established in 1891 and since then we have represented and promoted the interests of the bakery trade in Scotland.
We aim to be an integral part of each member’s business by providing support for Bakers of all sizes.
We provide a valuable source of help, advice, information, assistance and skills development for bakers throughout Scotland.
But most importantly, Scottish Bakers belongs to its members, we are all there for their benefit and are proud of our motto ‘for the good of all’.
www.scottishbakers.org
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Contact: Julie Fourcade
Phone: 01903741546
Email: julie@fourcade.co.uk
