Palmerston North baker Fleur Blake has become the first two-time winner of Woolworths New Zealand's annual Baker of the Year competition.
This year's final was particularly hard fought, with all three finalists returning champions from previous Baker of the Year and Hot Cross Bun Baker of the Year competitions.
Their brief was to create three innovative products that balanced customer appeal with commercial viability: two savoury and one sweet.
Blake, from Woolworths Rangitīkei St in Palmerston North, impressed the judges with a Turkish-style Simit, Jalapeño & Cheddar Loaf and Belgium Biscuit Cupcakes.
While the competition crowns New Zealand's top supermarket baker each year, it's also become a launchpad for new bakery products, and one of Blake’s winning creations will now be rolled out to Woolworths bakeries, giving shoppers the chance to try a Baker of the Year creation.
Outside of the competition, Blake has helped develop the next generation of Woolworths bakers as a Baker Skills Trainer, passing on the knowledge she's built over more than 25 years with the supermarket.
Baking has been my passion for over 25 years with Woolworths, and seeing the level of skill at this year's competition was incredibly inspiring.
“As a Skills Trainer, I love helping our upcoming bakers build their confidence and grow their careers. Winning for a second time is a wonderful milestone, and I hope it shows the next generation what you can achieve when you pour love into your craft,” said Blake.
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