Annie’s Bakery is voted as finalist in major Scottish awards
An Upper-Gills-based bakery is a finalist in the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year Awards (SBYA), it has just been announced.
Annie's Bakery was named as a finalist in the SBYA’s ‘Customer Choice’ category, the only category voted for by customers, at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow at the weekend.
Annie Body, who runs the popular Caithness bakery in Upper Gills near Canisbay, said: “Becoming finalists in the Scottish Bakers Customer Choice for Best Café was amazing and we were thrilled that so many of our valued customers took the time to vote for us, both online and in the café.
“For a small, rural business in Upper Gills to have reached the finals of Best Café in Scotland was fantastic.”
Due to work commitments, Annie was unable to enter her products for judging this year but hopes to do so next year and attend the conference and awards ceremony in Glasgow.
The SBYA celebrates “the finest in Scottish baking” and with nearly 600 entries from over 60 bakers across the nation, the competition was said to be fierce. Lesley Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Bakers, which organises the annual event, said, "The level of competition this year was exceptionally high, making each win a significant accomplishment. Each entry was meticulously evaluated based on appearance, baking quality, and taste."
The awards aim to showcase Scotland’s best bakes, with categories including scones, loaves, savoury items, morning rolls, individual cakes, biscuits, French and Danish pastries, and a range of gluten-free options. The competition culminates in the prestigious Scottish Baker of the Year title, celebrating the pinnacle of baking achievement in Scotland.
The awards also recognised excellence in business practices with four distinct categories: Craft Baker of the Year for businesses with three or fewer shops; Retail Craft Baker of the Year for those with more than three shops; Wholesale Baker of the Year for manufacturers without retail outlets; and Bakery Café of the Year for cafés producing the majority of their baked goods in-house or at a dedicated bakery unit.
Michelle Phillips, the newly installed president of Scottish Bakers, commented: "All winners should feel incredibly proud of their achievements.
“We anticipate that these well-deserved accolades will not only honour their hard work but also contribute significantly to their business growth. Congratulations to all our deserving winners."
For more information about the winners and the competition, please visit www.bakeroftheyear.scot
Annie’s Bakery can be found at Bridle way , Upper Gills, Canisbay. There is a Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/AnniesBakeryLtd
Tel: 01955 611497. Email: annie@anniesbakery.co.uk
