Stars of the bread-baking world from across the UK came together in London last night (October 11) for the much-anticipated announcement of the winner of the Tiptree World Bread Awards.
The awards ceremony at St John’s Church, Hyde Park, was hosted by Stephen Hallam, master baker, managing director of Dickinson & Morris and chair of the judges who was delighted to declare, Agnes Gabriel of Gradz Bakery, Wembley, London, as Winner of the Speciality Savoury category – and overall winner of the Awards, handing them £1000, a Tiptree hamper and trophy.
“The field was more competitive than ever,” says Hallam, whose fellow judges included Frances Quinn, Great British Bake Off, Colin Reese, Master of the Worshipful Company of Bakers, and Andrew Whitley, founder, The Real Bread Campaign.
Agnes beat off competition from loaves sent in from around the United Kingdom – delivered by courier, taxi and in person on the morning of the judging at Cathedral Hall, Westminster Cathedral, to ensure maximum freshness.
The World Bread Awards, launched in January 2013, seek to celebrate the very best of British bread baking. Entries have more than doubled since then. With 12 million loaves sold in the UK every day, it is an industry whose greatest exponents deserve to be celebrated. “The choice, range and quality of bread in Britain today is immense,” says Caroline Kenyon, Director of the Awards.