Cumbria and Manchester-based bakery Lovingly Artisan has announced that it has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious BBC Food & Farming Awards 2025.
Lovingly Artisan, renowned for its handcrafted, traditionally baked bread, has been selected as one of three finalists in the Best Food Producer category. The bakery is in great company alongside fellow finalists: Courtyard Dairy, North Yorkshire, and Flourish Produce, Cambridgeshire.
Other award categories include Best Drinks Producer, Digital Creator, Farming For The Future, Food Innovation, Countryfile Young Countryside Champion, and Morning Live Best Streetfood, Takeaway or Small Eatery. The finalists in each category have been carefully chosen from thousands of nominations by an expert judging panel, led by renowned chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The panel has been on the lookout for individuals and businesses that are making a real difference through their contribution to food and farming.
The next step for Lovingly Artisan and the other finalists is an in-person meeting with the judges, who will assess each candidate before the winners are revealed at the BBC Food & Farming Awards ceremony in Bristol on November 18th, 2025.
Commenting on this remarkable achievement, co-owners Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor said: “Being named as a finalist for the BBC Food & Farming Awards is an incredible honour and truly overwhelming for our whole team. This recognition is a testament to the dedication of everyone involved with the bakery, especially Dr. Andrew Wilkinson, whose expertise in ancient grains has been invaluable in helping us establish our Burneside grain mill. We also owe a huge thanks to Eden Yard, who grow the grains for us here in Cumbria, and, of course, our loyal customers who have supported us every step of the way. Without their continued belief in our mission, we couldn’t have achieved what we have so far. Our ultimate goal remains to bring real, healthy, nutritious bread back to the heart of the home, feeding families across the region.”
Lovingly Artisan’s journey began with a mission to craft exceptional, locally sourced bread that brings people together. As the bakery continues to grow, this recognition affirms the hard work and passion that the team puts into every loaf.
The BBC Food & Farming Awards will be held on November 18th in Bristol, where the winners across all categories will be announced.
