Heaven's Bakery Comes Out On Top

Heaven's Bakery Comes Out On Top

Heaven's Bakery has been named New Zealand Bakery of the Year 2007. Masterton's Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery and Caf was awarded second place while third place went to Osler's Bakery of Wairoa in the Hawke's Bay.

Coupland's Bakery in Christchurch won the People's Choice award, which was voted for by over 1,000 customers via a texting campaign. Heaven's Bakery also secured the awards for Best Cake and Best Pastry in the competition, while Wellington Bakery Arobake was awarded Best Bread.

Results of the competition were announced at a gala dinner at the Baking Industry Association of New Zealand (BIANZ) Conference in Auckland last night (12th September). The conference commemorated the 40th anniversary of the BIANZ.

Heaven's Bakery Managing Director Jason Heaven says the win is testimony to the hard working and committed team at Heaven's Bakery. "We work with a really good team. They are dedicated and enthusiastic, but we also manage to have a lot fun we really enjoy what we do".

Results: New Zealand Bakery of the Year 2007
- Overall Winner: Heaven's Bakery, Napier
- 2nd Place: Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery and Caf, Masterton
- 3rd Place: Osler's Bakery, Wairoa
- People's Choice: Coupland's Bakery, Christchurch
- Winner Best Bread: Arobake, Wellington
- Runner Up Best Bread: (Draw) Peck's Cottage Bakeries, Auckland and Mt Maunganui Bakery
- Winner: Best Pastry: Heaven's Bakery, Napier
- Runner Up Best Pastry: Eurobake, Albany, Auckland
- Winner Best Cake: Heaven's Bakery, Napier
- Runner Up Best Cake: Osler's Bakery, Wairoa
- Top Ten Finalists:
1. Heaven's Bakery
2. Ten O'Clock Cookie Bakery and Caf
3. Oslers Bakery
4. Picton Village Bakery
5. Strathmore Bakery and Caf
6. Peck's Cottage Bakeries
7. Eurobake
8. Baked in the Bay
9. McGregors Bakery Wanaka
10. Jackson's Bakery and Cafe

An animated video featuring a group of Gingerbread Men performing the Haka was developed by the BIANZ to issue a challenge to bakeries across the country to enter the New Zealand Bakery of the Year. The video, which is hosted at www.bakeryoftheyear.co.nz, has been viewed by over 3 million viewers in New Zealand and internationally.

BIANZ Executive Officer Belinda Jeursen says the competition was developed to promote and acknowledge excellence in New Zealand baking.

"We developed the competition to recognise and reward the good work being currently carried out by bakeries throughout New Zealand whether they are small or large, a caf or a patisserie," said Jeursen. "We wanted as many bakeries as possible to participate, and the response has been outstanding both to the video and to the competition."

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