The oldest family firm of craft bakers in Wales is in the running for the top award the industry can bestow.<\/p>\n
Wrexham-based Gerrards were thrilled to learn they have reached the final of the annual bakery Oscars.<\/p>\n
Gerrards, founded in 1838 and being run by the sixth generation of the family, has been shortlisted in the category for Craft Business of the Year.<\/p>\n
The competition is tough because there are around 3,000 bakeries in the UK.<\/p>\n
The Bakery Industry Awards will be dished out at a glittering ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in London\u2019s Park Lane in September. The event will be hosted by TV star Richard Madeley.<\/p>\n
The news caps a remarkable year for Gerrards who took on six new stores following the demise of the Eccleston\u2019s bakery when the owner David Eccleston retired.<\/p>\n
They added shops in Bala, Corwen, Llangollen, Chirk, Gresford and Wrexham to their portfolio taking the number of outlets to 15 across North Wales and the Wirral.<\/p>\n
The firm also has a fleet of eight sandwich vans that supply offices, factories and business parks in North Wales, Shropshire, Cheshire and the Wirral with freshly baked products.<\/p>\n
According to director Dawn van Rensburg, they\u2019re now looking at the possibility of further expansion.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cWe\u2019re obviously over the moon to be in the running for this prestigious award.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel it\u2019s recognition of the fact that we\u2019re a craft business that\u2019s still upholding the best traditions of the baking business.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cIn addition, we\u2019ve opened six new shops in the last 12 months when many other businesses have been struggling.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019ve had lots of incredibly positive feedback form our customers who\u2019ve come in to our new shops and said that they\u2019re really pleased that there is still a craft bakery on their high street and we\u2019ve had incredible support from them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we opened the Corwen shop we had an email from a customer who said that her dad was so pleased because he used to travel from Corwen to Wrexham twice a week to buy the bread from our shop in Wrexham and now he didn\u2019t have to travel so far.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re expanding without becoming some large national faceless brand.\u00a0 It\u2019s a family business with strong family values.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like to think that we are an integral part of the local economy and we have a company policy where possible to source our ingredients locally.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baker and Confectioner Linda Smith said: \u201cThere are a lot of bakers all over the country and to come in the first three at least is brilliant. We are very proud of the work we do.<\/p>\n
Foreman Chris Williams has worked at the bakery for more than 30 years and met his wife Jeanette there.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt\u2019s a family business, the staff are all friendly and we all get on. It\u2019s a very happy ship.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe things that we produce are of a very high standard. Quite a few people have been here a long time so there\u2019s a lot of skill here.<\/p>\n
Jeanette, a Baker and Confectioner, added: \u201cIt\u2019s really exciting to be in the finals for this award \u2013 we\u2019ve got our fingers crossed.\u201d<\/p>\n