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Baking Industry Awards 2004
Organised by British Baker
At this years Baking Industry Awards, held in London on 20th September, four SAMB members were recognised for their outstanding achievements.
Congratulations to the following SAMB Members, who proudly flew the flag for Scottish Baking:
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The Centenary Baker Award - Sponsored by British Bakels
Winner: Andre Sarafilovic, Managing Director, Wm. Stephen (Bakers) Ltd.
Sacked by his employer for organising a strike, William Stephen set up his own bakery in 1873 and, within five years, he had built the Dunfermline premises, still occupied by the company.William Stephen has never been slow to adapt in order to take advantage of a changing market place; setting up a catering arm after the second world war; fitting out army vans for retail sales in the 1950s; and, more recently, setting up the Stephens Direct lunch delivery service. One of its most successful ventures has been a convenience store franchise operation, which spreads to 24 locations and generates 25% of the corporate income.Today, the 160-strong company has 11 shops and 30 wholesale customers and an annual turnover of £4.5m. In the next 12 months, it plans to complete a new bakery, commission four new Stephens Direct vans and refit all it shops. |
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The Centenary Baker Award - Sponsored by British Bakels
Highly commended: Alan Marr, Managing Director, Thomas Auld & Sons
With 42 retail bakeries and coffee shops, a wholesale business supplying independent multinationals, such as Sodexho, plus a frozen desserts factory with clients around the UK and in Ireland, it is unsurprising that Greenock-based Thomas Auld & Sons boasts an annual turnover of £20m.The company was founded in 1890 as a bakery and restaurant on the quayside at Greenock port. Today it is one of the largest employers in Inverclyde, with 950 staff, and Alan is confident that there is room for further expansion. "We look to exploit gaps in the market," he says. "We see what's right for our company and go for it."Alan believes his staff are one reason for the success of the company. "We make to a quality, not to a price," he says. "People want to taste the difference in our products" |
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Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year
Highly Commended: Mark Bruce, Sales & Marketing Director
Lightbody Celebration Cakes
A fourth generation family business, Lightbody began trading as a retail bakery in 1885. In 1995 the company took the bold step of becoming a celebration cake producer and it has never looked back. The 750-strong company supplies the major UK multiples and Irish chains, turning over £29.3m, and it is expanding into Europe.
The path into Europe has been partly paved by cartoon characters; Lightbody produces Disney and Warner Bros licensed goods and the company view that French children like Mickey Mouse as much as the English has proved a winner. Focus groups are currently looking at potential markets in Spain, Holland and Germany. Supporting this growth is constant investment, with £3m recently poured into a new small cake facility and an incredible five extensions to the Hamilton-based bakery. |
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Young Baker of the Year - Sponsored by California Raisins
Highly commended: Samuel de-Souza, J G Ross Inverurie
Samuel de-Souza has recently completed his SVQ Level 3 in craft baking and is currently doing what he describes as " a bit of everything" at J G Ross. This must be a hectic job, as the Inveruie-based company manufactures breads, cakes, savouries and biscuits for its own shop and cafe, as well as for its wholesale clients.
Samuel's dream is to run his own bakery in Portugal, although he acknowledges that local tastes are very different to those of the British and he will probably have to apply himself to learning more about Portuguese products.
It's his ability to learn that he believes has led him to the finals. "I learn quickly and only need to be shown how to do something once", he says. "And I completed my Levels 2 and 3 easily within my apprenticeship". |
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Articles courtesy of the  |
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