Bettys has been crowned top Craft Business of the Year in the Baking Industry Awards 2014 – the industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
The bakery in Plumpton Park, Harrogate, was given the award after wowing the judges by launching more than 100 new products in the past year, making more than five million specialities and going global with a gifts-by-post service.
The achievement was recognised last night in front of more than 800 industry guests at a gala awards ceremony at London’s Park Lane Hilton, as the company was presented with the award by the comedian and television sit. com. star, Hugh Dennis, and Karl Brown, Country Director of award sponsor Dawn Foods.
The award was accepted by Paul Gray, bakehouse manager of the company which cashed in on the recent visit to Yorkshire by the Tour de France by marketing cycling-themed products and by designing window displays on the theme of ‘Dales meets the Alps’.
Paul said: We are really delighted to have scooped this very prestigious award and are very proud that the nation’s best craft business is based here in Harrogate.
At Bettys we work hard to keep time-honoured craft skills alive so we can be confident that our customers are getting the very best in bread, cakes and specialities.
Creativity and innovation are the lifeblood of our business, so our relaunched patisserie range takes inspiration from the best that French and British patisseries have to offer.
We preserve and nurture our craft techniques, focusing on skilled handmade and hand-finished products while remaining up to date with our technical expertise. And Bettys by Post products and gifts are proving a worldwide success.
In the past 12 months, Bettys has also launched a prototype leadership structure, widened its online offer and concentrated on increasing its breakfast range, while maximising local produce.
Now in its 27th year, the annual Baking Industry Awards is the premier event in the UK bakery calendar and has been recognising industry excellence since 1987. Run by British Baker magazine, prizes are awarded across 11 categories including Speciality Bread Product, Celebration Cake Business and Baker of the Year.
Martyn Leek, Editor of awards organiser British Baker magazine, said: The Baking Industry Awards represent the pinnacle of bakery in the UK and all of the finalists are to be applauded for their dedication, their skills and their products or services. They have worked hard, some of them for a lifetime, to reach this pinnacle.
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Awards picture shows (l to r):
