Aidan Monks co-owner of Northwest-based bakery Lovingly Artisan, which operates in Altrincham, Manchester, and Kendal in the Lake District, was presented with the top baking industry accolade last night (24th October), at this year’s Baking Industry Awards, (BIA), collecting the Baker of the Year Award 2024.
Over 500 people attended the black-tie event, hosted by DJ & TV presenter Scott Mills, held at the Royal Lancaster, London, as the assembled guests celebrated the excellence within the baking industry as the 12 category winners were announced at the annual Awards evening.
Each of the winning people, products, and businesses was chosen following months of judging, which included site visits, interviews, and product testing to ensure they were worthy of these highly sought-after accolades.
Amy North, the editor of British Baker said: “These awards have been going for nearly 40 years and recognise the best and brightest the industry has to offer, from skilled artisan bakers to large-scale manufacturers, nationwide retailers, and up-and-coming bakery brands. Following a trying few years, the bakery has further cemented itself as a pillar of the food & drink industry. Our latest collection of winners showcases why it is such a driving force as they demonstrate innovative thinking, successful strategy at all scales, and unmatched passion for the baked goods they produce whether they’re the nation’s daily bread or an occasional afternoon pick-me-up.”
The Judges remarking on Aidan’s win said: ‘’Aidan hasn’t let complacency sink in since taking home the Baker of the Year trophy in 2019. He has maintained a position of being ‘front and centre’ of Cumbria-based bakery Lovingly Artisan, including a hands-on role in production and helping to build relationships with suppliers and customers. It was his passion and continuous drive for improvement which saw him secure the title ahead of three other highly talented finalists, with judges lauding his “outstanding” output, adding that the products were “as usual, very good.”
Commenting on his award win Aidan said:
‘’It’s a real honour to win this award for the second time. As a baker, I’ve progressed and grown since my last win in 2019. But as with any award like this, you’re only as good as the people around you. Ours is a family business and without the help of my family, we wouldn’t be where we are today as a business. So, I’d like to say a big thank you to Catherine, Ailish, Niall and Dean for all of their unwavering support along the way. In addition, I want to say a huge thank you to every single member of our team for their hard work, and dedication as we work together to put quality, wholesome, healthy breads at the heart of every family table once more.’’
