Britain’s Best Loaf is an esteemed annual event that celebrates the artistry and craftsmanship of bakers across the UK. Showcasing an array of innovative and traditional bread creations, it serves as a platform for bakers to demonstrate their skill, creativity, and dedication to their craft and has been sponsored and supported by ADM Milling for the past six years, this event holds special significance in the baking industry calendar.
Craft bakers play a vital role in shaping the culinary landscape, offering unique and artisanal products that captivate taste buds and elevate dining experiences. Their commitment to quality and authenticity resonates with consumers who value the artisanal touch in their baked goods. Participating in events like Britain’s Best Loaf not only highlights the talent and creativity of craft bakers but also provides an opportunity to forge connections and foster collaborations within the industry.
Gareth Edwards, ADM’s Head of Sales – Craft and Speciality Bakery was on the judging panel this year, here is what he had to say about the day:
Britain’s Best Loaf 2024 marked my second opportunity to participate in judging a Britain’s Best Loaf event, so I had some familiarity with what to expect. However, upon arrival at the exhibition area, it was already bustling with more activity than I recalled from Britain’s Best Loaf 2023. Entries were abundant, with more arriving by the minute, and the atmosphere was building.
This year, I formed part of a judging team of three, assigned to the Sour Dough category. With over 30 entries, it was a challenging task. As any sourdough baker knows, a good loaf is not solely judged by its external appearance. As we began the process—cutting, smelling, tasting, and deliberating—it became evident that selecting a final winner for the category would be no easy feat.
This year, I formed part of a judging team of three, assigned to the Sour Dough category. With over 30 entries, it was a challenging task. As any sourdough baker knows, a good loaf is not solely judged by its external appearance. As we began the process—cutting, smelling, tasting, and deliberating—it became evident that selecting a final winner for the category would be no easy feat.
After several hours of careful consideration, we reached our decision for both a winner and a highly commended entry. These loaves, along with others from various categories, were presented for all judges to discuss and sample, ultimately leading to the crowning of the outright winner for Britain’s Best Loaf 2024—a superb Focaccia loaf!
The event concluded with presentations to the winners and highly commended entries for each category, now on the main stage at the centre of the arena. The atmosphere was buzzing, with a drinks reception underway and anticipation running high. Following the presentations, I had the opportunity to reconnect with customers and industry peers, many of whom I hadn’t seen in some time.
At the end of the day, it was a fantastic event!
**What Made the Winning Loaf Stand Out in the Sour Dough Category: **
The winning loaf stood out to us for several reasons. It boasted a striking external appearance, coupled with a well-defined internal structure sporting a sheen and waxy look. Moreover, its taste and aroma were exceptional.
We would like to congratulate Joes Bakery on winning the following categories:
Best white with the Pugliese and highly commended for the Farmhouse
Highly commended for, Soda bread (international) Wholemeal loaf (wholegrain)
Jenny Rogers from Joes Bakery says, “The day itself is always enjoyable, it is great to see what Bakers out of Bristol are producing and it is especially encouraging to see that others share our passion for great bread and continue to fly the flag for the Baking industry.”
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended and entered Britain’s Best Loaf 2024. Your hard work, dedication, and passion were evident in the fantastic array of loaves showcased this year. It was truly inspiring to see so many amazing creations and to celebrate the exceptional talent within our baking community. Thank you for making this event a resounding success!
Our Ingredients Bake All the Difference
ADM offers a comprehensive portfolio of tried-and-tested flours, on-trend specialty milled ingredients, baking mixes and complementary ingredients—all backed by over a century of milling experience. Our bakers, millers and technical experts are at the ready to help you select the right ingredients for better baking results and to achieve your business goals faster.
The Right Products – ADM offers a variety of flours and specialty milled products and continues to develop more—to meet the functional and quality needs of our customers and their customers.
Excellence That’s Baked Right In – ADM provides the highest-grade flours and blends to help your baking business succeed, batch after batch and loaf after loaf. We offer high quality flours and blends, and deliver the reliability and trust you need to ensure great quality, better performance, and consistent yields.
