Shipley based bakery Just Desserts have scooped the prestigious Producer of the Year trophy at the Garbutt & Elliott Food & Drink Business Awards.
Launched three years ago by York and Leeds-based accountancy firm Garbutt & Elliott the awards aim to recognise and celebrate the county’s best food and drink producers and retailers and the family run bakery beat off stiff competition to pick up the accolade.
The thriving bakery, which was established 35 years ago by enterprising husband and wife team James and Carol O’Dwyer in Bradford’s Salts Mill now employs more than 30 staff and is going from strength to strength, despite a challenging climate due to Covid-19.
The Food and Drink Producer of the Year category looked to celebrate Yorkshire businesses doing something exceptional and the Just Desserts team was recognised for their 130-strong premium range of handcrafted desserts and pattiserie, offering innovative and stand-out products direct to the foodservice industry, as well as its continued investment in its bakery and staff to expand the business.
The bakery continues to pioneer products to meet market and consumer demand from individual cheesecakes and a popular vegan range to collaborations with high profile brands such Lotus Biscoff, the famous little red Belgian biscuit, used in its Cheesecake and Gateau range.
The business’s continued investment in growth, including its £160,000 development programme to increase the footprint of the bakery as part of its 5 year strategic expansion plan, its premium quality, handcrafted product range and investment in staff were also all acknowledged by the judges.
Commenting on the award win, Just Desserts Managing Director James O’Dwyer said: “We are absolutely delighted to be named Garbutt & Elliott’s Producer of the Year at a time when we all need some positive news. It’s testament to the continued hard work, passion, innovation and dedication of our bakery team in such a challenging climate.”
Matthew Grant, Partner at Garbutt & Elliott said: “It was great to get the opportunity to visit such an established and resilient Yorkshire business. James and Carol have created an incredible business and the award is well deserved.”
For more information on Just Desserts and their award winning range visit their website www.just-desserts.co.uk