Britain Loves Baking founder to give away 75% of new start-up Cakery Wonderland

The founder of Britain Loves Baking announced that he is giving away 75% of his latest new bakery start-up, Cakery Wonderland. The concept is a new afternoon tea delivery service, and it will be given to a young talented baker or pastry chef. This exciting new opportunity was announced on the company's website and job postings on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with over 300 applicants applying within less than 24 hours.

Britain Loves Baking is a purpose driven enterprise, its aim is to help create a world where no one goes hungry. Since its inception in June 2020, the company has donated over 10,000 baked goods to the homeless in Leicester as part of its social purpose. It's helped over 4,000 people who suffer with their mental health by giving them a mindful baking box free of charge.

Cakery Wonderland is the first in-house venture setup with a loan provided by the founder Greg Wixted, a serial entrepreneur and lecturer in entrepreneurship. Within four months it was profitable. Now he plans to give up to 75% of it away, as he looks for a young chef who wants to run their own business and is passionate about finding ways to help eradicate food hunger and poverty.

As the advert stated: "This not a job offer, one applicant will become owner and director from day one." 

Its new owner will get three months intense business training on a programme designed to help them grow an impactful venture. They will have their own kitchen within Britain Loves Baking's London- based production facility for up to one year, along with access to its supply chain and suppliers. 

The chosen applicant will be mentored by Wixted and his team and supported by a year of management, hospitality and industry courses to support them in their role.

The idea came about after Britain Loves Baking spent some time working with Re-London to create a more sustainable business model. Like its sister company, Cakery Wonderland will put 10% of its revenue to fund grants for disadvantaged young people with a great purpose driven, food based, new business idea.

Commenting on the announcement, CEO and founder Greg Wixted said: "We firmly believe in putting people and purpose before profits and shareholders. If we're to help end food poverty, we must embrace new business ideas like this. We must invest in helping purpose driven food entrepreneurs who will go on to help others and help create a world where no one goes hungry."

Applicants wishing to apply will be interviewed, and the successful candidates will take part in a challenging bake-off. The final chosen candidate will spend a paid week in the business before delivering a final pitch on their vision for the concept. The process itself will be fun and educational.

The company is looking to have its new owner in place by the beginning of this month, December. Anyone over the age of 18 and with 18 months to two years of baking or catering experience, formally or informally taught was invited to apply.

https://britainlovesbaking.com/collections/cakery-wonderland

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Ahmad Tea and Galerie Du Thé Secure Double Listing at Harrods

Ahmad Tea and its luxury sub-brand, Galerie du Thé, are delighted to announce that they have secured a new retail listing with the world's leading luxury department store: Harrods.

Ahmad Tea, which is available in over 90 countries, has created an iconic collaboration with Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which will be available in Harrods' London store, as well as online. In the collection of high-quality teas, called 'Beyond the Leaf', there are four classic loose tea blends, each presented in a sophisticated and eye-catching caddy. A selection pack which includes all four blends in teabags is also available.

Making its retail debut will be a selection of teas from Ahmad Tea's luxury loose leaf range: Galerie du Thé. Its mission is to deliver tea so fresh that it captures the essence of the garden where it grew. The teas are from small-batch gardens in remote places.

There will be eight loose leaf teas available in Harrods in addition to a Discovery Pack which showcases a variety of extraordinary blends. The selection includes the Great Taste Award-winning Jasmine Dragon Pearls, Kirimara Sunrise, Secret Garden and Emperor's Peak.

Gary Winslade, Ahmad Tea UK Sales Manager commented, “We're incredibly excited to have secured this listing with Harrods and to have the opportunity to introduce Harrods' clientele to our range of exceptional tasting blends. Harrods is the perfect retail destination for our teas as we share the same laser focus on high quality.”

Harrods is the latest in a string of UK listings for Ahmad Tea which has also recently launched its teas in Booths, Ocado and World Duty Free.

 Ahmad Tea is a family company founded and run-on family values, headquartered in Southampton, UK. It only works with the finest tea gardens around the world and every blend is sampled seven times during the journey from being plucked to cup – a process overseen by its Chairman, Mr Rahim Afshar, and his team of world-leading Tea Masters. Nothing leaves the Ahmad Tea tasting room until they are sure it will make an extraordinary cup of tea, destined to inspire tea lovers everywhere.

https://uk.ahmadtea.com.

https://www.harrods.com/en-gb.

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It's National Apricot Day on Ninth January

Delicious and nutritious, golden-coloured Apricots have their very own day of fruitful recognition every year on January 9th.

Did You Know that our apricot name is probably derived from the Arabic 'al barquq' meaning 'early ripening', via the French 'abricot?'

They are low in calories and also low in fat and are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and dietary fibre.

Prunus Armeniaca is a member of the Rosaceae family along with peaches, apples and pears; but as the least hardy member of the family, apricot trees require some special care to fruit successfully in the British climate.

Apricots are the national fruit of Armenia, from where they are thought to have originated, with China and India also likely sources.

Although one of the earliest ripening fruits of Summer, January is a little too early to enjoy them fresh from the tree, so why not  choose to celebrate these juicy, tasty beauties with a luscious Bonne Maman Apricot Yoghurt? Or maybe it's the day to top some overnight soaked oats with Bonne Maman Apricot Compote?

Maybe you could take the opportunity to bake a true showstopper with an Apricot Meringue Roulade, filled with Apricot Compote, double cream and topped with flaked almonds. Or, if following a Veganuary commitment, try a generous swirl of extra fruit-filled Bonne Maman Apricot Intense Conserve on some lacy Apricot Vegan Crêpes with toasted nuts.

The Bonne Maman Apricot Range includes: Apricot Yoghurt, Apricot Conserve, Apricot Intense and Apricot Compote. Delicious!

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Nearly half of Brits feel sense of hopelessness about rising food costs, but aren’t aware of available support

Nearly half (48%) of Brits feeling a sense of hopelessness about the cost of food, but 31% of those impacted by the rising cost of food have not turned to food banks due to stigma and the feeling that they may be taking products from those who are more in need.

New research from Co-op reveals a third of those impacted by the rising cost of living are turning to food charities more often.

With household bills on the rise, an independent survey commissioned by the ethical convenience retailer revealed that almost a half of Britons (48%) feel a sense of hopelessness when thinking about the cost of food.

The increasing demand on food banks has been widely reported on in recent months, as the pressure of rising food cost increases. The independent study of 2,000 Britons showed the need for alternative sustainable solutions, as the survey suggests there's a stigma around the use of food banks, which continues to be a barrier.

Of those most impacted and turning to food banks, over half (56%) aren’t aware of alternative, sustainable and dignified food projects which can help improve household finances.

As part of its mission to ensure communities and members have better access to sustainable food solutions, Co-op has announced a major new partnership with Your Local Pantry - a low-cost food project and community hub. The partnership, funded by Co-op Members, will see the Your Local Pantry network triple within three years from 75 to 225 Pantries across the UK, with the addition of 150 new Pantries.

To date, Your Local Pantry has helped tens of thousands of households strengthen their community, improve finances and access more affordable food as well as reduce isolation and improve mental health. In fact, 76% of those who have benefited from access to Your Local Pantry membership have felt that it's been beneficial for their mental health.

The network, backed by the charity Church Action on Poverty, has expanded rapidly since the first Pantry was opened by Stockport Homes Group in 2013, accelerating throughout the recent global pandemic, as communities sought sustainable responses to the financial impact of the lockdowns.

Through the new partnership, Co-op and Your Local Pantry aim to support over 32,000 households over the next three years, saving Local Pantry members nearly £5million on shopping bills, up to £1,000 a year for each Pantry user. Co-op will raise awareness of affordable community solutions to food initiatives, helping to tackle household finances as costs continue to increase.

Unlike a food bank, Pantries are open to all and work like any other grocery store, in that members choose the food they want from the shelves. Members pay a few pounds per shop and in return can choose groceries worth many times more than that amount.

The partnership is just one of the initiatives launched by Co-op to support its customers, colleagues and members access more affordable food and manage household budgets. Earlier this year, Co-op invested £37M to lower the price of the 120 most frequently purchased products, and locked in these low prices until the New Year.

Since 2016, Co-op members have raised £117 million for local communities, including funding for over 30,000 local community projects supporting an estimated 7M people across the UK throughout the Co-op’s Local Community Fund.

Rebecca Birkbeck, Director of Community and Membership Participation said: “At Co-op, we believe everyone should be able to access to good  quality food. It's thanks to our members we're able to support this innovative partnership with Your Local Pantry, plus many other initiatives, like our investment grow Hubbub’s Community Fridge network.

"We're obviously very proud to be continuing to support Your Local Pantry, which offers communities a long-term, sustainable solution to help manage their household finances and learn new skills. For all at Co-op, this feels like a real step in the right direction to ensure fairer access to food for all.”

James Henderson, Your Local Pantry Network Development Coordinator, added: “Pantries are fantastic places. They bring people together around food, soften the impact of high living costs, and strengthen the power and potential of neighbourhoods. 

"Communities have long wanted to improve food security while upholding dignity, choice and hope, and Pantries are a proven win-win solution. We're really excited to be teaming up with the Co-op, so another 150 neighbourhoods can open Pantries of their own."