STORY: Burns the Bread is National Bakery of the Year 2020

Somerset baker Burns the Bread was named National Bakery of the Year 2020 at a glittering awards ceremony in London last night.

Third-generation bakers Casey and Max Stoddart of Burns the Bread collected the award and said of the win: “We are a bit lost for words right now, but this is an amazing feeling. We really didn’t expect this.”

The entries were weighed, measured and debated at length by a team of industry experts gathered by Bakery Business magazine, which organises the National Bakery Awards, and Burns the Bread rose to the top of the pile to be named a clear winner by the judges.

Alice Cooke, editor of Bakery Business magazine, said: “Burns the Bread thoroughly deserve this accolade. They are not only fantastic bakers, but an integral part of their community.

“Their desire to further the industry and encourage young bakers really speaks for itself. I am delighted with this result and encourage everyone who hasn’t already done so to pay them a visit in Glastonbury – you won’t regret it.”

Open to all UK bakeries (retail and wholesale), the National Bakery Awards celebrate early mornings, long days and hard work – made to give bakers more recognition, we were delighted when they entered in their hundreds.

From all the entries, our judges selected the County Winners, who were then automatically invited to the National Bakery Awards Grand Final to receive their awards last night (11th March).

From those County Winners we selected our Regional Finalists – so all those crowned the best bakery in their county made the trip to London to find out if they were also the best bakery in their region.

From those Regional Winners (listed below) the judges then chose Burns the Bread to be National Bakery of the Year 2020. Listing “empathy, integrity and respect” as its company values, Burns the Bread says the secret to its success is its attention to detail, and its “that’ll do just won’t do” ethos.

Burns the Bread Managing Director Terri Petherbridge said: “this encourages everybody to do their best, from the van drivers on the road and the quality of the iced buns, right down to the whiteness of the dish cloths.” She added: “No stone is left unturned – we are constantly looking for ways to improve, be that our premises our practices or our products.”

Regional Winners

Central Scotland – Casella and Polegato
East Midlands – Hambleton Bakery
East of England – Two Magpies Bakery
London – Little Bread Pedlar
North East of England – Lee's Family Bakery
North West – Lovingly Artisan
Northern Ireland – Corn Dolly Foods
South East – Poppyseed Bakery
South Scotland – Lough’s Home Bakery
South West – Burns the Bread
Wales – The Bakers' Table
West Midlands – Live Love Loaf
Yorkshire and the Humber – The Pie Bakery