A PATISSERIE company in Dorset beat off stiff competition from the upper crust of the British baking industry to win a national award.

Patisserie Mark Bennett, based in Sandbanks, Poole, which has a chain of three shops in the area was awarded The Craft Business Award at the Baking Industry Awards 2015.

The achievement was recognised in front of more than 800 industry guests at a gala awards ceremony at London’s Park Lane Hilton.

Mr Bennett, managing director of the company, was presented with the award by television presenter and star of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, Claudia Winkleman, and Karl Brown, UK and Ireland cluster director of the award’s sponsor, Dawn Foods.

Mark Bennett said: "Our breads are a major focus as they contain only pure ingredients, with 16 to 20 hour ferments to make tasty sourdough loaves and gourmet sandwiches."

Now in its 28th year, the annual Baking Industry Awards are the premier event in the UK bakery calendar and have been recognising industry excellence since 1987.

Run by British Baker magazine, prizes are awarded across 11 categories including Speciality Bread Product, Celebration Cake Business and Bakery Manufacturer of the Year.

The awards evening had a Studio 54 disco theme based on the legendary New York nightclub which was made famous by international celebrities like Andy Warhol, the Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson.

Martyn Leek, editor of British Baker magazine, said: "We may not have those names here tonight, nor will we have Bianca Jagger ride through the room on a white stallion, but we have our own stars - our finalists who have spent a lifetime honing their trade.

"We are here this evening to reward them for their hard work, their persistence and their skills and I’d like to thank all our finalists for entering the Baking Industry Awards. This is a celebration because the people in this room represent the very best in bakery."

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