Ready to roll….Derbyshire MP visits Luke Evans Bakery following investment

MP Nigel Mills visits Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire

East Midlands bakery Luke Evans has invested £75,000 in new equipment which will allow it to produce up to 9,000 bread rolls per hour.

The new machine gives the Derbyshire family run bakery an extra 50% capacity for roll making and has been purchased in response to increased demand.

Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills recently toured the bakery at Riddings, near Alfreton, to find out more about one of the oldest family run bakeries in the country and to meet some of the 50-strong workforce at Luke Evans, which was founded more than 200 years ago.

Managing director David Yates said: “We gave him a full tour of the bakery, where he was able to talk to the bakers, and see what was involved. We were busy with the bread production, and he watched and asked questions about the various different processes and types of breads the bakers were making.

“It gave us the chance to highlight our latest investment – an Oddy Novatek roll plant which has replaced the Original Oddy we first purchased 22 years ago. The machines, manufactured just outside Leeds, are known in the industry for their incredible strength and durability, and even though it’s 22 years old, I have had numerous customers trying to buy my retired machine. 

“The new equipment is very similar in its design to the original one, but has been upgraded from a two-pocket to a three-pocket machine. This gives us the capacity to produce up to 9,000 bread rolls per hour. The other big advantage is that this new machine will mould all sizes of finger rolls which gives us greater consistency and is less labour intensive. Previously we hand rolled all of our finger rolls. 

“I’m also pleased to be able to buy British, as there is very little bakery machinery still manufactured in the UK.”

Luke Evans sells direct to the public from its shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, as well as supplying around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, cafés, schools, and delis. Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products from farmhouse loaves and bread rolls to fresh cream éclairs and iced buns.

The company, founded in 1804 by Henry Evans who named it after his brother Luke, has also recently appointed a new management structure. 

“We are very excited because we have been able to promote largely from our own team,” said Operations Director, Helen Yates. “Jon Booth, our new bakery manager and Paul Booth, our new night shift assistant manager, have both been with us since joining our delivery team straight from school. Phil Knowles has remained in the role of bakery night shift manager and Nick Woodcock, our only external recruit, brings fresh ideas from his previous role at Morrisons, to his new role as assistant manager.” 

A forward-thinking business, while still being loyal to its 200-year-old heritage, the team is passionate about supporting the future of the craft-baking industry.

Luke Evans Bakery operations director Helen Yates has been involved, along with other craft and plant bakeries across the country, in developing Trailblazer Apprenticeships for the bakery industry alongside the National Skills Academy for Food & Drink.

Speaking of his visit, Conservative MP Nigel Mills said: “I was delighted to recently visit Luke Evans at their base in Riddings to meet the team and see the various production stages of their high quality handmade products. Family run businesses like this are the heart of our economy, and Luke Evans is a great example of a fantastic local employer. Having seen their new machinery and tasted their outstanding products, I have no doubt they will continue to thrive and develop.’’

During the course of the visit, David and Helen Yates discussed with him their views on supporting local and small businesses, and how they encourage customers and stockists alike to support local producers.

“We were very pleased to host a visit from our MP Nigel Mills, as it gave us the chance to demonstrate what goes on at one of the region’s oldest family run craft bakeries in the East Midlands at a time when Luke Evans is continuing to invest and develop,” added David Yates.

For more information, visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Derbyshire farm shop Croots launches annual festive charity fundraising

Croots Farm Shop is launching its annual festive fundraising effort in aid of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre with a special event on Thursday 12^th November.

The farm shop, based at Farnah House Farm, Wirksworth Road, near Duffield, will be staging a Christmas taster evening, with a range of producer demonstrations and sampling sessions.

The event, which runs from 5pm until 8pm, is free to attend and will also kick start a festive charity appeal in aid of Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which has been the farm shop’s adopted charity for a number of years.

Customers and staff have raised hundreds of pounds in support of the charity, which provides disadvantaged Derbyshire children with holidays in Skegness.

Steve Croot, who runs Croots Farm Shop with wife Kay, said: “We’re delighted to once again be raising money for such a good cause and would like to thank our customers in advance for the support that I know they will be happy to give. Hopefully we can raise a nice sum and present Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre with a really good Christmas gift of their own.

“The event will also be the chance for customers to meet producers and to find out more and taste some of the products we sell at Croots, as well as benefiting from a 10 per cent discount on their shopping basket.”

Among those lined up to take part are Duffield Dairy, Luke Evans Bakery, cattle farmer Margaret Heath, who supplies beef to Croots, Darley Abbey Wines, Sloemotion and Hartington Cheese. There will be a ten per cent discount on shopping during the evening. Croots will run two further late night Christmas shopping evenings on Friday 11^th and Friday 18^th December until 8pm.

Other festive events lined up include a cheese and wine evening on Friday 4^th December from 6pm to 9pm, when Andy Little from Darley Abbey Wines will deliver an entertaining talk on wines to complement the Christmas cheese board. Tickets are £5.

Croots will also be running breakfast with Santa sessions on Sunday 6^th, Saturday 12^th and Saturday 19^th December from 8.30am, with pre-booking required, at £12 per child.

This year’s charity effort for Derbyshire Children’s Holiday Centre, which next year celebrates its 125 birthday, and which offers 450 holiday places per season, features a raffle with the chance to win a tasty hamper packed with food and drink worth £80.

Croots Farm Shop is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm (Shires Eatery until 4.30pm) and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Croots runs Fresh Fish Thursdays between 9am and 1pm on Thursdays.

For more information visit www.croots.co.uk

Find Croots on Twitter @crootsfarm_shop or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Croots-Farm-shop-127012538821/ 

Press release issued by Nottingham based pr company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk 

Luke Evans Bakery team raises dough for charity

A sporting team from Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire has raised more than £1,000 for charity, partly as a thank-you for saving the life of the father-in-law of one of its employees. 

If it hadn’t been for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, John Downs might have died after having a heart attack on the course at Alfreton Golf Club a few years ago. 

Now his son-in-law Mark Dance, who is transport manager at Luke Evans Bakery, and five others in their team have completed the Calke Abbey 10K. 

Their efforts have netted more than £1,000 which will be split between the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance and the Lullaby Trust, which provides specialist support for bereaved families and anyone affected by a sudden infant death. 

For most of the six-strong team, it was the first time they had undertaken such a challenge. 

Helen Yates, operations director at Luke Evans Bakery, was part of the team and the only one who had previously run a 10K race. 

“Without the air ambulance, Mark’s father-in-law wouldn’t have been taken to hospital as quickly and may not have survived, so we felt the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance was an extremely worthwhile charity to support,” said Helen. “Everyone at Luke Evans Bakery is very proud of the team, and I’d like to thank them for taking part, as well as those who have been most generous with their donations.” 

Bakery customers, family and friends all donated to the fundraising efforts. The team’s Justgiving page will stay open for a while longer to collect from anyone else who would like to support the team. It can be found at https://www.justgiving.com/lukeevans10k/ 

Other members of the Luke Evans Bakery team were drivers’ mates Daniel Wainwright and Reece Johnson, dispatch worker Jason Bacon, and Matthew Hood, the boyfriend of the daughter of Luke Evans managing director David Yates. 

First past the post for the Luke Evans team was Daniel, who completed the race in 51 minutes and 1 second, and was second in his age group. He was followed by Mark who recorded a time of 52 minutes and 37 seconds, and Jason, who came in at 54 minutes, 54 seconds. 

Luke Evans Bakery, which is based at Riddings, supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers, including shops, delis, schools and universities, as well as selling direct from its shop in Riddings, near Alfreton. 

The family run firm was founded in 1804. 

For more information about Luke Evans Bakery visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery raises more than £200 for Teenage Cancer Trust as part of National Craft Bakers’ Week

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery has raised more than £200 for the Teenage Cancer Trust after taking part in National Craft Bakers’ Week.

The bakery visited Riddings School and encouraged pupils to get creative with cupcakes following a demonstration and hands-on session.

The company also staged a cupcake decorating workshop at its premises in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, and ran a raffle.

The bakery, which supplies bread and cakes across Derbyshire, as well as parts of Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, has supported National Craft Bakers’ Week regularly.

Now in its fifth year, the campaign is organised by The National Association of Master Bakers and The Scottish Association of Master Bakers and supported by the baking industry.

“We were pleased to get involved in National Craft Bakers’ Week, which highlights and promotes craft bakers in local communities, and delighted to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust,” said Helen Yates, operations director at Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804.

“I’d like to thank all our customers and everyone at Riddings School who supported our fund-raising efforts.”

Luke Evans cake decorator Sharon Dance, pictured, ran the demonstrations, supported by Charlotte Dennis, who is also part of the Luke Evans Bakery team.

Luke Evans Bakery supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers, including shops, delis, schools and universities, as well as selling direct from its shop in Riddings, near Alfreton.

For more information about Luke Evans Bakery visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Cupcake decorating organised by Luke Evans Bakery as part of National Craft Bakers’ Week

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery is taking part in National Craft Bakers’ Week which is raising cash for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Riddings-based bakery is helping the younger generation to get involved in baking by visiting a local school and encouraging pupils to get creative with cupcakes.

Members of the Luke Evans team will give cupcake decorating demonstrations to pupils at Riddings School on Friday 11th October before letting the youngsters have a go themselves.

The bakery, which supplies bread and cakes across Derbyshire, as well as parts of Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, is also staging a cupcake decorating workshop at its bakery in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, on Saturday 12th October from 10am to noon, with the opportunity for visitors to have a go themselves.

It is also holding a raffle during National Craft Bakers’ Week, which runs from 7th to 13th October. First prize is a voucher for an 8” celebration cake worth up to £47 and tickets are available from the Luke Evans shop in Greenhill Lane.

Now in its fifth year, the campaign is organised by The National Association of Master Bakers and The Scottish Association of Master Bakers and supported by the baking industry. The event is encouraging everyone to ‘love their baker’ and visit their local craft bakery.

Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804, regularly gets involved in the campaign and this year has organised a number of events to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

“National Craft Bakers’ Week is an excellent way of not only raising the profile of craft bakers and what they do, but also of helping a charity too,” said Helen Yates, operations director at Luke Evans Bakery.

“We’re looking forward to giving cupcake decorating demonstrations and encouraging others to roll up their sleeves, get their aprons on and have a go.”

Visitors to the workshop on Saturday 12th October are encouraged to put their names on a list in advance at the Luke Evans shop but can turn up on the day, numbers permitting. Entry is £2, plus 50p for a cupcake to decorate. All proceeds will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust, which is the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. The charity builds specialist units within NHS hospitals that bring young people together to be treated by teenage cancer experts in a place designed just for them.

Last year, events held across the UK as part of National Craft Bakers’ Week raised more than £2,000.

For more information visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery joins Feeding Britain’s Future campaign

Derbyshire bakery Luke Evans is taking part in a national scheme aimed at helping young people to secure jobs.

The Riddings-based bakery has pledged support to the Feeding Britain’s Future campaign which is being staged by the food and grocery industry during September.

Organised by research and training charity IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution) and in partnership with Jobcentre Plus, the campaign is offering 15,000 training opportunities nationally.

At Luke Evans Bakery, operations director Helen Yates will run workshops over two days on September 18th and 20th focusing on compiling CVs and advice on interviews, as well as a tour of the bakery.

“We feel it’s really important to support young people in their bid to secure a job. It can be particularly tough to get on the first rung of the career ladder. Luke Evans Bakery has been hiring local Derbyshire workers for more than 200 years, so we are well placed to offer advice and support about what we look for when it comes to employability,” said Helen Yates.

“At the same time, this campaign gives us, and the sector in general, a great opportunity to inspire the younger generation to consider the food and grocery industry as a career. The food and grocery industry is the UK’s biggest private sector employer, accounting for one in seven jobs, and it needs to attract young people with the right skills in order to continue to thrive.”

Pre-employment workshops are taking place at 1,200 locations across England, Scotland and Wales during September, and more than 180 employers have united to offer 15,000 training opportunities to young people.

IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch said: “This type of programme not only helps young people understand the rules of the game when job hunting, but it also widens the talent pool from which the industry can recruit its future stars and leaders. There are benefits for everyone and we’d encourage other industries to follow suit.”

Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804, operates 24 hours a day producing a range of breads, cakes and other bakery items.

It supplies around 300 wholesale and trade customers in Derbyshire, East Staffordshire and Nottinghamshire, including shops, universities, cafés, schools and delis. It also has a shop beside its bakery in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, near Alfreton.

For more information visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Press release issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Christmas coffee morning in aid of Breast Cancer Research

Two Derbyshire women who are running the London Marathon next year in aid of Breast Cancer Research are staging a fund-raising Christmas coffee morning.

Helen Yates, operations director at Luke Evans Bakery in Riddings, near Alfreton, and midwife Deana Emerson are aiming to raise £5,000 before the 26-mile event on April 21st.

They plan to stage a number of fund-raising events to help them reach their target, with the first on Saturday 15th December from 10am to 2pm at South Wingfield Cricket Club near Alfreton.

The Christmas coffee morning will feature entertainment, refreshments and a special guest appearance from Father Christmas who will be in his grotto waiting to meet the children and give each of them a present.

Next year’s marathon will be the first undertaken by Helen, who’s 39, and the fourth by Deana, who is 41.

Both women, who live in Shirland, have had treatment for breast cancer and are setting out to collect as much as they can for Breast Cancer Research.

“We’re getting on well with our training and looking forward to the London Marathon next year,” said Helen. “Although I’ve run for a while, I’ve never attempted long distance before so it’s going to be quite a challenge to keep up with Deana.”

A mix of home made cakes from local friends, family and well wishers, and treats from Luke Evans Bakery along with coffee, tea and mulled will be available at the Christmas coffee morning.

If you would like to sponsor Helen and Deana, visit http://www.justgiving.com/HelenYates-DeanaEmerson

Press release issued by Nottingham-based PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire waves goodbye to long-standing employee

Loyal Luke Evans Bakery employee Phil Tomlinson has retired from the Derbyshire bakery after 47 years with the company.

General manager Phil, known to his colleagues and customers as Sam, joined the business as a Saturday boy at the age of 13 – earning £1 a day.

He has worked for a number of generations of the Luke Evans family, starting with the fourth generation, Joe Evans, who was at the helm in 1965.

Now 60, Phil has decided to retire from the Riddings-based bakery and said: “As far as I’m concerned, I have been good for Luke Evans and Luke Evans has been good for me. I have enjoyed it – it’s been fantastic.”

Phil, who lives at South Normanton with his wife Denise, a mobile hairdresser, has no concrete plans for his retirement, but hopes to spend more time with his two-year-old granddaughter Laila and has promised to help his daughter Rachael convert her new house in Somercotes.

David Yates, managing director of Luke Evans Bakery, said: “Phil, or Sam as we call him, has been a tremendously loyal colleague to us all, and we wish him all the best in retirement. He’s seen lots of changes since he joined us in 1965 and met many customers, who I am sure will join me in congratulating him on his long service and in wishing him well for the future.”

Phil’s retirement has sparked a number of changes to the management team at Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804 and supplies bread and cakes across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire.

Mark Dance, who joined Luke Evans as a van lad in 1987 before becoming a driver, becomes transport manager.

Craig Storer, who has been at Luke Evans since the age of 16 in 1991, becomes sales manager for the bakery. He previously worked as a driver and then joined the despatch team.

The new despatch manager is Simon Orme, who joined the company in 1989 as a van lad at the age of 16. He went on to become a driver, before moving to pastures new, and then returning 15 years ago when he joined the despatch team.

“I’d like to congratulate Mark, Craig and Simon, who between them have worked for Luke Evans Bakery for many years - all starting as van lads,” said David Yates. “I have great confidence in the new management team and it’s great to be able to promote from internally - especially as they have grown with the business.”

Phil swapped his six-day a week paper round in Leabrooks which earnt him 15 shillings a week for his £1 a day Saturday job at Luke Evans Bakery when he was 13.

After leaving school he became a van lad at the age of 15, before later working in despatch. He especially enjoyed his time in sales, he said.

“When I first started we delivered to shops but also door to door. We used to pull up on various housing estates in places like Somercotes and Riddings – just like a mobile shop,” said Phil, who was given the nickname of Sam by colleagues when he was a teenager and it’s stuck throughout his working life.

Luke Evans Bakery sells direct to the public from its shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, and also supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, cafes, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products from farmhouse loaves and bread rolls to fresh cream éclairs and iced buns.

For more information visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Special wedding cake created by Luke Evans Bakery

Derbyshire bakery Luke Evans has designed and created its biggest wedding cake so far this year… for managing director David Yates and operations director Helen Waterfall.

The couple chose a five-tier cake as the centrepiece of their wedding reception after tying the knot at Shirland Church, near Alfreton.

The fruit cakes were decorated with a completely different intricate design on each tier by the team at Luke Evans Bakery, in Riddings, which has been baking bread and cakes for more than 200 years.

Real avalanche roses in white were placed in between the tiers.

“We were absolutely thrilled by the wedding cake,” said Helen. “Our team did a great job. They’d been feeding the cake brandy for the past four months and it was beautiful.”

The five-tier cake was the largest created by Luke Evans Bakery this year, which makes an average of four wedding cakes a month.

David and Helen, who live in Shirland, had their reception at Morley Hayes Hotel, near Derby, surrounded by family and friends after marrying on August 24th.

Luke Evans Bakery sells direct to the public from its shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, and also supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, cafes, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products from farmhouse loaves and bread rolls to fresh cream éclairs and iced buns.

The bakery has been providing wedding cakes to happy couples across Derbyshire for decades.

For more information visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

Photo courtesy of Martyn Dudley Studio, Ripley.

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery staff rise to the occasion

Sporting staff at Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire have raised more than £700 for charity after taking part in a 10k race.

The team featured operations director Helen Waterfall, Craig Storer, who works in despatch, assistant shop manager Gemma Smith and her husband Chris Smith, who’s a driver, and Judith Gration, daughter of a retired Luke Evans employee.

The event at Sherwood Pines, Nottinghamshire, also gave Luke Evans Bakery the chance to unveil the new company logo emblazoned on their t-shirts.

Staff chose Breast Cancer Research and the charity that helps those affected by the rare cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (PMP) as the beneficiaries of their fund-raising run.

Gemma’s mum Jayne Taylor, 49, who lives in Codnor Park, Derbyshire, underwent a major 11-hour operation in 2008 after being diagnosed with PMP. A rare form of cancer, which usually starts in the appendix or other parts of the bowel, the ovary or bladder, it also affects other organs and Jayne lost a number of key internal organs as a result of surgery for the condition, including her gall bladder, spleen and part of her liver.

She is currently in remission, and has annual check-ups to keep a close eye on her health.

Jayne’s partner Peter Bailey also joined the Luke Evans Bakery team, who competed in the Sherwood Pines 10k trail race.

For most of the group, apart from Judith and Helen, it was their first attempt at conquering the distance.

“It was a wonderful team effort from all the staff at Luke Evans Bakery. The support we received was overwhelming and really kept us going. Pseudomyxoma Survivor and Breast Cancer Research are both charities that are very close to our hearts and we’re glad we could do our bit to raise money and awareness,” said Helen.

The bakery, based at Riddings, near Alfreton, which was founded in 1804, used the occasion to unveil the firm’s new logo. Helen said: “We wanted a new logo to reflect what we stand for, a forward-thinking business, providing high quality craft bakery products while still being loyal to our 200-year-old heritage.”

First to cross the finishing line was Judith, who was the ninth woman to complete the distance – completing the challenge in 46 minutes and 18 seconds. She was followed by Helen, Craig, Chris, Gemma and Peter.

“I was really proud of them all,” said Jayne.

The share of the money in support of those affected by PMP is going to the Pseudomyxoma Survivor charity, which was founded by Dawn Green in 2010. Jayne met Dawn while the pair were in hospital in Basingstoke and has previously supported the good cause with a charity fashion show.

Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804, sells direct to the public from its shop in Greenhill Lane and also supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, cafes, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products from farmhouse loaves and bread rolls to fresh cream éclairs and iced buns.

For more information visit http://www.lukeevans.co.uk/

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR http://perfect10pr.blogspot.co.uk/

Luke Evans Bakery raises cash for charity during National Doughnut Week

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery has donated £88 to the Children’s Trust after taking part in National Doughnut Week.

The bakery, based at Riddings near Alfreton, gave 10p for every doughnut sold at its shop during the special week, and also added its own donation to the good cause.

“We were pleased to take part in National Doughnut Week and do our bit for charity,” said managing director David Yates. “It’s an event we’ve supported for some time now.”

National Doughnut Week has raised more than £735,000 for the Children’s Trust since it was first launched – and this year organisers hope to collect a further £30,000 for the good cause.

Luke Evans Bakery was one of many participating bakers across the UK helping to raise money for the Children’s Trust, which is a national charity that provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Chance to win a hamper of bread and cakes for your diamond jubilee street party from Luke Evans Bakery in Derbyshire

Organisers of street parties to mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee could win a tasty hamper packed with bread and cakes from Luke Evans Bakery.

The family bakers, which was founded in Derbyshire in 1804, has launched a competition to find the most deserving street party within 20 miles of its bakery at Riddings, near Alfreton.

Luke Evans is urging organisers to write up to 100 words explaining why their street party deserves to win the £100 hamper, which will contain some of the bakery’s most popular products.

“The Queen’s diamond jubilee is a time for national and local celebration, and we know that lots of communities will be holding street parties to mark the occasion,” said David Yates, managing director at Luke Evans Bakery.

“The centrepiece of a street party is usually some kind of buffet, and we’re really pleased to offer the opportunity for communities to win a hamper of bread and cakes.”

Entries need to arrive by Friday May 25th. They can be sent to Helen Waterfall, Luke Evans Bakery, Greenhill Lane, Riddings, Derbyshire, DE55 4AS, or emailed to helenwaterfall@lukeevans.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club. It also has a shop at Greenhill Lane, Riddings.

Luke Evans Bakery was founded more than 200 years ago by Henry Evans, who named the business after his son. Today it is a modern company with a team of fully trained craft bakers operating 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery joins National Doughnut Week 2012

Derbyshire baker Luke Evans Bakery is giving customers the perfect excuse to dive into a doughnut by taking part in National Doughnut Week and raising cash for charity.

The baker will be donating 10p from the sale of each doughnut to charity during the week, which runs from Saturday May 12th to Saturday May 19th.

National Doughnut Week has raised more than £735,000 for the Children’s Trust since it was first launched – and this year organisers hope to collect a further £30,000 for the good cause.

This gives everyone the perfect excuse to treat themselves to a delicious doughnut or two, said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

“Last year our customers really got behind National Doughnut Week and munched their way through 1,200, which meant we could hand over a decent donation to the Children’s Trust,” said David. “We hope customers will support this good cause again this year.”

Luke Evans Bakery, based at Riddings near Alfreton, will be adding two new doughnuts to its range during National Doughnut Week – chocolate filled and custard filled doughnuts. Alongside its jam and cream doughnuts, the products will be on sale at the firm’s shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings.

Luke Evans Bakery is one of many participating bakers across the UK helping to raise money for the Children’s Trust, which is a national charity that provides care, education and therapy for children with multiple disabilities and complex health needs.

The firm supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Luke Evans Bakery was founded more than 200 years ago by Henry Evans, who named the business after his son. Today it is a modern company with a team of fully trained craft bakers operating 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Bread trends revealed by Luke Evans Bakery during National Bread Week

A snapshot survey by one of the oldest family bakers in the East Midlands, Luke Evans Bakery, has revealed a growing appetite for seeded and wholemeal loaves.

Figures released by the Derbyshire bakery during National Bread Week, which runs from April 16th to 22nd, show a rising popularity for these types of bread.

The bakery, which was founded in 1804, sells 36 different lines of unwrapped and unsliced bread. Some 15 of these are seeded and wholemeal.

“Five years ago, sales of our seeded and wholemeal loaves represented about 26% of our loaf sales,” said David Yates, managing director at Riddings-based Luke Evans Bakery. “That’s now gone up to 29%, showing that they are continuing to rise in popularity.

“It’s all down to an increasing awareness about healthy eating. Multi-seeded bread has low GI (Glycaemic Index), which is a measure of the effect foods have on blood sugar levels. Those with a low GI ranking make you feel full for longer because they cause a slow, steady rise in blood sugar levels.”

Luke Evans Bakery supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

It also has a shop at Greenhill Lane, Riddings.

“Bread has been part of our staple diet for thousands of years,” said David Yates. “Over the last 20 years there has been a big shift in the type of bread being eaten, and our latest figures, which we’ve compiled for National Bread Week, show that interest in the seeded and wholemeal types is still rising.”

Luke Evans Bakery was founded more than 200 years ago by Henry Evans, who named the business after his son. Today it is a modern company with a team of fully trained craft bakers operating 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

Issued by Nottingham PR company Perfect 10 PR www.perfect10pr.co.uk

Luke Evans Bakery has launched a delicious range of Simnel cakes for Easter

It is the first time for many years that the bakery at Riddings in Derbyshire has offered the traditional fruit cakes.

Available in two sizes, the Simnel cakes feature marzipan decoration and have been created using a traditional recipe by the craft bakers at Luke Evans.

“We produce and sell a wide selection of cakes, and felt it was time to add the Simnel cake to our range,” said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

“The cakes are absolutely delicious, and we hope our customers enjoy them.”

Available to wholesale and retail customers via the Luke Evans Bakery shop in Greenhill Lane, Riddings, near Alfreton, the Simnel cakes are priced at £4.95 and £8.95.

The bakery, which was founded in 1804, supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

The Simnel cake is traditionally baked at Easter, although its precise origins appear unclear.

The cakes are available at Luke Evans for a limited time only and until Easter Saturday.


www.lukeevans.co.uk

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Derbyshire wedding cake expert Luke Evans Bakery looks at trends for 2012

The future’s looking bright for wedding cakes this year.

Luke Evans Bakery, which has been making and designing wedding cakes for generations of couples in Derbyshire and beyond, says this year’s trends include bold designs, with purple proving a popular colour.

Elegant and vintage styles, with intricate designs, are also a hot favourite with brides and grooms who are tying the knot in 2012.

The American style of tiers of cake without the use of pillars or stands continues to be in demand, with round being the most popular shape of cake.

And when it comes to the type of cake, the older generation tends to prefer traditional fruit cake, while the younger generation often favours a flavour such as banana or carrot cake. Virtually anything is possible now when it comes to flavours, and many couples opt to have different cakes for each tier, creating a tall and elegant showpiece.

Wedding cakes made of cupcakes or fairy cakes are also bang on trend, having been popular for the past couple of years. A modern alternative to a traditional cake, cupcake wedding towers allow newly weds to have a range of different flavours of cake and endless choices when it comes to design.

“There are so many beautiful options for wedding cakes,” said Sharon Dance who has worked at Luke Evans Bakery in Riddings for 18 years and has decorated hundreds of wedding and celebration cakes.

“Trends in wedding cakes tend to go round in circles. It’s like fashion. When they come back round, the younger generation haven’t seen them before so they appear to be fresh and new. Having said that, there are always new designs, ideas and influences, so each wedding cake is individual and unique to a couple.

“Last year purple became popular as a colour, and that’s continuing in 2012. Round is the most popular shape of cake, and many couples are opting for brighter, bold designs. However, elegant and vintage styles are also very trendy, possibly influenced by last year’s royal wedding.”

Luke Evans Bakery, founded more than 200 years ago, has been making cakes for generations of Derbyshire’s newly weds. The bakery will be taking part in a number of wedding fairs across Derbyshire this year, including Horsley Lodge on February 19th and Derby Conference Centre on March 18th.

It already has several orders for 2013 weddings as couples look to plan ahead and book the key wedding day items.

“The wedding cake is traditionally the centrepiece of the wedding reception,” said Sharon. “The possibilities for style, design and decoration are virtually endless, and then of course there’s the type and flavour of cake. Many brides and grooms opt for a three-tier cake, with one tier of fruit cake, another tier of Madeira cake and a third tier of chocolate cake. This means they have something to suit everyone.”

For more information about Luke Evans Bakery’s wedding cake service visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

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Christmas cake recipe riddle for Luke Evans Bakery

One of the country’s oldest family run bakers is appealing for information from Derbyshire’s older generation to see if it can pinpoint exactly how long it has been producing Christmas cakes using the same recipe.

Luke Evans Bakery has established that the recipe for its Christmas cakes has been used for at least 50 years – but the current managing director David Yates believes it’s almost certainly been used for much longer.

Bakery foreman David Bond, who has been with the business for more than 47 years, was taught the recipe by Joe Evans – the fifth member of the family to run the bakery at Riddings near Alfreton.

“The Christmas cake recipe was passed over to David Bond by Joe Evans, who told him that Luke Evans Bakery had used the recipe for many years previously,” said David Yates. “But we’d love to know if there was anyone who could give us a more precise timescale for how long the recipe has been used.

“I suppose it’s feasible that it could have been used for more than 100 years. We were just wondering if there was anyone who could give us any more information about the history of the Christmas cake recipe. Perhaps they remember their grandparents or parents buying a Christmas cake and trying a piece.”

Founded in 1804, Luke Evans Bakery, which is an eighth generation baking business after Sarah Yates – the great granddaughter of Joe Evans – joined the company last year, bakes around 1,000 Christmas cakes each year, ranging from large luxurious cakes to smaller round traditional cakes.

Some of its wholesale customers also have a long history associated with the Christmas cakes.

Both Rita Bowmer’s General Store, on Belper Lane End, Belper, and Costcutter at Newton, near Tibshelf, now run by Peter Smith and formerly trading as Smiths of Newton and run by his father Frank Smith, known as Chug, have stocked the Christmas cakes for more than 50 years.

“I am 58 and I can remember Luke Evans when I was a little lad and I know we have been with them for over 50 years,” said Peter Smith. “The quality of the cake is excellent and the decoration is excellent as well.”

Luke Evans employee Philip Tomlinson, known as Sam, used to deliver to Chug when he was a van driver. Sam too has a long history of working for Luke Evans Bakery - he joined the company on 1st July 1967 and now has 44 years service.

Luke Evans Bakery sells direct to the public from its shop in Green Hill Lane and supplies around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, East Staffordshire and further afield, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park - the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

www.lukeevans.co.uk

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Luke Evans Bakery hits the right note with community donation

A community organisation which has been entertaining local people for almost 80 years is to receive a donation from Luke Evans Bakery to mark National Craft Bakers’ Week.

The bakery at Riddings, near Alfreton in Derbyshire, pledged to give one pound for every year it had been running to a local good cause as part of its celebrations for the special week.

Now it has chosen Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company as the beneficiary of the £207 donation.

“Luke Evans Bakery has been a key part of the Derbyshire community for more than 200 years and we are delighted to support a community organisation that also has a long history in the area,” said Luke Evans Bakery managing director David Yates.

“National Craft Bakers’ Week was an excellent opportunity for us to promote what we do, with a range of different events. We had a number of deserving good causes apply for our donation, but we could only choose one and we decided that Ripley and Alfreton Musical Theatre Company was to be the beneficiary. I hope the money will help them to carry on performing and entertaining in the future.”

The organisation, which is self-funding, relies entirely on sponsorship from local companies, voluntary contributions and fund-raising activities to help produce its shows.

Vice chair Kate Viles said: “We are very grateful to Luke Evans Bakery for the donation, which will be a big help with our next show Carousel, which we have already started rehearsals for. The show will be performed at Alfreton Grange Arts College in April 2012. For this show we require a group of children to play the 'snow children', therefore we will be involving children and adults of all ages from our local community.”

During National Craft Bakers’ Week, run by the National Association of Master Bakers, Luke Evans Bakery also donated free cream cakes for elevenses to several local companies including Granwood Flooring, Riddings, Martin Harris Hair and Beauty, Leabrooks, ETS Tyres, Riddings, David Nieper, Alfreton for their Macmillan Coffee Morning, and Blooming Nails and Beauty, South Normanton.

Luke Evans Bakery, which was founded in 1804 and now employs the eighth generation of the family, sells direct to the public from its shop in Green Hill Lane, Riddings, and supplies around 300 trade customers across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, including shops, schools, delis and Pride Park – the home of Derby County Football Club.

Fully trained craft bakers operate 24 hours a day turning out breads, cakes and savoury products.

Luke Evans Bakery can also make stunning cakes for every occasion… from weddings and birthdays to special anniversaries and retirements.

For more information contact the bakery on 01773 602764 or visit www.lukeevans.co.uk

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