LONDON, February 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --
*Chocolate Cakes are Nations Favourite*
*Over 60% get baking inspiration from family and friends*
Research out today shows that Mary Berry is the person most people in the UK would like to bake with and over 60% of respondents get their cake inspiration from family and friends, followed by the ever growing popularity of baking and cookery programmes on television, as well as books and magazines.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130220/595125-a )
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130220/595125-b )
The research, released by The Cake Awards also shows that the UK's favourite cake is something chocolatey - sponge or brownies, second best is a delicious Lemon Drizzle, and a traditional Victoria Sponge is also whetting people's appetites. Over 50% of those surveyed said that they bake weekly, with almost a quarter finding the time to bake several times a week - showing how cake making has been embraced by the nation.
The 'must have' gadget for 2013 cake making is a good icing bag with a range of nozzles, followed by the very handy silicone spatula. Half of all respondents said they would like to bake with Mary Berry, second favourite was Paul Hollywood with 15% of votes and Nigella Lawson is also a firm favourite. Many also stated family members like Grannies and Mums would be their top baking companion.
As well as the UK taking inspiration from TV, magazines and friends and family - many of us use baking cakes to relieve stress and help relaxation. Others baked cakes because they want to know what is in the food they are eating, and because their children enjoy baking.
Will Torrent, award winning pâtissier and chocolatier, and judge for The Cake Awards said: "The nation has certainly embraced baking over the past few years, with the number of people making cakes and the frequency of their baking increasing. The popularity of cake making can be seen in various ways - TV shows and cooking books are having a huge impact, but it's interesting to see people also saying that family and friends influence them - as I see lots of families baking together, and that's where I took my inspiration from. It's great to see people getting involved - baking cakes is affordable and fun, so perfect for anyone to give it a go. I'm looking forward to seeing different trends filter through for 2013."
The Cake Awards organisers also surveyed experts from the baking and food industry, about what they thought 2013 would bring to the world of cakes.
- Doughnuts will be hitting our sweet spot in the year ahead, although David Hamilton, Innovation Director at Kerry Foods hints that the classic treat will take an unusual twist, as we see the creation of square doughnuts in 2013.
- Traditional and retro looking treats are also tickling our taste buds.
- Jason Danciger, Head of Hospitality and Fresh Counters at Marks & Spencer, tipped scones to feature strongly, with a more exciting range of flavours being created than ever before.
- The experts also expect to see more unusual flavours emerging - more vegetables like beetroot, carrots and parsnips in cakes.
- We'll see the cupcake phenomenon continue as more diverse flavours come through.
- Mini cakes will stay in vogue - making cakes an affordable treat.
- Other suggestions for more unusual flavours include marshmallows, Tonka Beans, candied bacon, Wasabi and Hibiscus.
- 'Free From' cakes will increase in popularity.
Jane Milton, Food Industry Expert and Co-Founder of The Cake Awards said: "In the coming year we will see more root vegetables in cakes, the continuation of retro cakes - more classics from 60s and 70s, mini cakes, lots of decorations and embellishments and decorative finishing of cakes too."
The Cake Awards will find and celebrate the very best British cakes. They are a unique opportunity for organisations and individuals to showcase their best products to the most respected figures in the industry, and to be judged by a panel of elite experts on the 9th and 10th April. Only those cakes that have it all - excellent presentation, quality ingredients, recipe innovation, texture, taste and value will triumph.
The awards are now open to enter and categories include -
Tea Room Cake
Hotel Cake
Bakery Shop Cake
Wholesale Bakery Cake
Wedding Cake
Retail Christmas cake
Supermarket Cake
Celebration / Novelty Cake
'Free From' Cake
Bake at Home Cake
Cake of the Year (nomination only)
Winners will be announced at an afternoon tea and award ceremony on the 19th June at the Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair, London.
The Cake Awards is a joint venture between food industry expert Jane Milton and event organisers UBM Awards & Partnerships.
To enter The Cake Awards or for more information visit - http://www.thecakeawards.com
About the Cake Awards
The inaugural Cake Awards will take place on 19th June at London's Park Lane Hotel. Designed to celebrate the best in cake, the awards will recognise everything from wedding cakes, Christmas cakes and the cake mixes you bake at home. The Cake Awards reward only those cakes - and their bakers - that stand up to the scrutiny of an elite panel of judges made up of some of the UKs most respected chefs, bakers and food industry experts.
Jane has 25 years commercial experience within the food and food marketing industries and has had a lot of exposure to bakery products throughout her career. Jane grew her own chocolate brownie brand and now works with retailers and manufacturers helping them find new products and markets and the manufacturers to produce them. Cakes and bakery remain a large part of her work and she also helps with strategy and systems on several food industry awards programmes.
About UBM Awards & Partnerships
UBM Awards & Partnerships is part of one of the largest event companies in the world. They create, design and deliver Awards ceremonies that reach thousands of people globally across every sector. Their Awards publicly celebrate excellence, highlighting what is best, what is effective and what is valued.
About Will Torrent
Award winning pâtissier and chocolatier, Will Torrent, is a rising star in the food world. With a grandfather who was a chef and a family who owned a patisserie in Paris, cooking has always been in Will's blood. His first foray into the world of high-class cuisine came at Heston Blumenthal's world-renowned Fat Duck at the tender age of 16.
Will's book Pâtisserie at Home is out on the 11th April.
For media enquiries contact:
Rachel Branigan
PR Manager
UBM Awards & Partnerships
Tel: +44(0)207-955-3843
Email: [email protected]
SOURCE The Cake Awards
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