Poole baker takes home gold medal for 'interesting' loaf in national award
Mark Bennett's Thai Focaccia was awarded the Gold Medal for Innovation Britain's Best Loaf 2025 at the NEC Birmingham on Tuesday April 8.
He said: 'It means a lot for me and the business, because although it's me making the bread, it's the business that means everything really.
'You've got to keep pushing, keep trying to go forward with new flavours and ideas otherwise your customers will get bored,' he joked.
Mark Bennett (Image: Mark Bennett) The loaf made is with chilli, garlic, ginger, lemongrass and toasted sesame oil and customers can purchase it at Mark Bennett Patisserie over the Easter weekend.
Mark began baking at 15-years-old and worked in his family's bakery business, Bennett's Family Bakers in Poole, before opening his own business in Penn Hill 2012.
Mark said he was inspired to make the loaf after his love Chinese and Thai flavours.
'I thought it was quite an interesting loaf when I first made it, but I practised it, and everybody seemed to think it was something special and very different.'
Mark's Thai Focaccia won the Gold Medal Award for Innovation in Britain's Best Loaf 2025. (Image: Mark Bennett) He has won 58 bakery awards over his career and has previously baked cakes for the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee cake, and the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson.
'I've competed all my life and I love competition. I just love the bakery trade and I'm very lucky it's not just my job, it's a hobby,' said Mark. 'When I compete it gives me time to come up with new flavours that get passed on into the shop.
'I've been out of competition for a few years so to come out of retirement in a way and win a gold medal, I was very pleased with that.'
Even with the recent success of the award, Mark said he is not resting on his laurels and will be submitting three new bakes for the upcoming Baking Industry Awards: a French onion soup Loaf topped with Gruyère cheese, caramelised onions and thyme, a chai and chocolate babka and a yet-to-be-determined third submission.
Mark Bennett Patisserie has six locations across Poole and Christchurch, open throughout the week.
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