Latest news with #JonesVillageBakery
Business News Wales
5 days ago
- Business
- Business News Wales
Village Bakery MD Honoured for Industry Contribution at Wales Food and Drink Awards
A top baker has been honoured for his 'outstanding contribution' to the Welsh food and drink industry. The accolade was bestowed on Robin Jones, who has led the Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery through a period of growth, at the Wales Food and Drink Awards. The ceremony to recognise the best of the best in the sector was held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno and was hosted by former BBC journalist and TV presenter Sian Lloyd, who also hails from Wrexham. It was the latest in a long line of awards Robin has received, having previously been named Baker of the Year at the bakery industry Oscars and winning the Enterprise category at the Welsh Government's annual St David's Awards. Last month the Village Bakery was given a King's Award for Enterprise after achieving record overseas sales over the past three years. Robin said that receiving the Outstanding Contribution award was special because he was among his peers in the Welsh food and drink industry. He is a third generation master baker at the Village Bakery which was bought by his father, Alan Jones, and his grandfather, Harry Jones, in 1964. As a teenager, he helped out at the bakery every weekend and in the school holidays and after qualifying as a baker he joined the firm full time, later becoming managing director. He and his brother Christien, an engineer by trade, formed a team at the top of the company as it expanded rapidly over the past two decades. Robin 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. '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. It's been one hell of a journey.' Among the major highlights for Robin was the opening of their ground-breaking gluten free bakery in 2008 and the opening of a new, state-of-the-art bakery in 2015 by the then Prince of Wales, and the then Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla. But tough times lay ahead when their flagship bakery was destroyed by a devastating fire but, most importantly, all the staff evacuated the building without anybody being hurt.. Robin added: 'The fire on the 19th of August 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. The Village Bakery is now recognised as one of the best bakeries in the UK. 'I recently attended a bakery exhibition in Germany and we had a lot of positive feedback from people across Europe which was great. 'We have built our business on innovation and sheer quality and we have more exciting plans in the pipeline so the company keeps evolving and growing – it's great to be part of that. 'The secret of our success is that we never stand still – it's one of things I insist on and that will be in our DNA forever.' 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 30 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.'
Leader Live
7 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Wrexham baker honoured at Wales Food and Drink Awards
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." READ MORE: 'You've done Wrexham proud': Olly Pearson celebrated after BGT success Wrexham fans to travel nearly 6,700 miles in Championship next season 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.
Leader Live
06-05-2025
- Business
- Leader Live
Wrexham bakery awarded King's Award for Enterprise
The prestigious award was given to Jones Village Bakery for its impressive short-term growth in exports over the past three years. The bakery has recently expanded into new markets in Australia, the Middle East, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. 18 months ago, the bakery's increasing international recognition secured it a contract to supply pancakes to Australia, following a £2 million investment in a new, modern pancake production line. The original agreement was to supply three varieties of American-style pancakes: buttermilk, blueberry and lemon. The pancakes have been such a hit that the bakery has now secured a deal to supply its Australian customers with Welsh cakes and pikelets as well. This is alongside supplying a global network of around 200 M&S stores – reaching as far as Hong Kong and Singapore – with crumpets, scones, pancakes, bagels, rolls, Welsh cakes and pikelets. The increase in exports over the past few years has helped create 100 new jobs at the bakery. The company, which celebrated its 90th anniversary last year, is now targeting Canada and Japan as potential new markets for further growth. This is the third time the Village Bakery has been honoured by King Charles, the first two occasions being before he ascended to the throne. Former company chairman Alan Jones, now retired, baked bread for the then Prince Charles in the old brick oven at Erddig Hall during a visit to the National Trust-owned stately home on the edge of Wrexham in 1977. Then in 2015, the Prince, as he was at the time, officially opened the company's new bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate, where he and the then Duchess of Cornwall, now Queen Camilla, demonstrated their skill by learning how to flip Welsh cakes on the hot plate. Mr Jones' son Robin, who has led the export drive in recent years alongside his brother Christien, said he was delighted the company had once again been recognised by the monarch. Shareholder Robin said: "We were delighted and humbled to be recognised with a King's Award for Enterprise. "As well as being a hugely proud moment for the Jones family, the King's Award is also a fitting reward for our brilliant and dedicated staff who are the secret ingredient in our ongoing success." Glen Marriott, the company's commercial controller, played a key role in boosting overseas sales and was named an official export champion by the Welsh Government last year. He said: "In 2023, the Department of Business and Trade and Industry brought a delegation here, and that helped spur the growth we've seen in recent years. "Once the Welsh Government knew we were exporting to Australia, they were very helpful,l and that's opened up other doors over there. "They're also helping us quite a bit at the moment with Canada because we are looking at going there next." READ MORE: Why son's diagnosis spurred North Wales family on to set up website on rare disease Further momentum came last year when the company secured investment for a multi-million pound expansion plan from French bakery firm Menissez, a family-run business founded in 1965, a year after the Jones family took over the Village Bakery. Village Bakery CEO Simon Thorpe said: "We are in a very good place in terms of where we're heading. "We are now being recognised as one of the leading exporters in the Welsh food and drink sector. "As well as being a great honour, it is going to be a huge help in a practical sense. "Having the award will open so many more doors from an exporting perspective. "In terms of our standing in the export community, it will be brilliant. "The long term benefits to the business are going to be huge."
