Wrexham baker honoured at Wales Food and Drink Awards

Leader Live

5 days ago

Robin Jones, managing director of the Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery, received the Outstanding Contribution award at this year's Wales Food and Drink Awards, held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
The event was hosted by Sian Lloyd, former BBC journalist and TV presenter.
The award celebrated his service to the sector and his role in expanding the family business.
Mr Jones said: "The outstanding contribution award came as a big shock.
"We went there to celebrate the success of one of our apprentices, Tilly Squire, who was one of the finalists, which was fantastic.
"I was quite humbled because the success of the Village Bakery isn't down to me per se.
"It was an award for Christien, for Dad, all the staff and everyone who's worked at the Village Bakery and has put a lot of effort in."
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A third-generation baker, Mr Jones began working at the family bakery as a teenager.
The business was purchased by his father, Alan, and grandfather, Harry, in 1964.
After qualifying as a baker, Mr Jones joined the company full-time, later becoming managing director.
He and his brother Christien, an engineer, have led the business for more than 20 years.
He said: "We've worked very hard with some amazing people and we've seen the bakery grow but without Christien we wouldn't have built such a successful business.
"We've got complementary skills.
"He's the engineer and I'm the baker – I think that's the ethos of a small business when it comes to growth.
"We make a good team.
'My Dad always said to me that you don't create a legacy by standing still, and I think we have created a heck of a legacy thanks to everybody involved, past and present."
Jones Village Bakery also launched a gluten-free bakery in 2008 and opened a new facility in 2015, which was attended by the then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, now King Charles and Queen Camilla.
However, the company has also faced challenges, including a fire that destroyed its flagship bakery in August 2019.
He said: "The fire on August 19 in 2019, was a terrible shock but I think it showed what was in the DNA of the people at Village Bakery.
"We turned it around.
"We've gone from strength to strength and have never looked back.
"Our darkest day became our finest hour.
"I'm very proud of what we've achieved."
Liz Brookes, co-founder of the Wales Food and Drink Awards, said: "Robin Jones has not only helped drive incredible growth in the family firm over the past thirty years, he has also inspired others through his passion to upskill local young people and his contribution to the wider Welsh food and drink sector.
"Jones' Village Bakery is now one of the biggest employers in the Welsh food and drink industry, and its successful export story is flying the flag for Wales."
Last month, the bakery received a King's Award for Enterprise in recognition of its record international sales in the past three years.