Kilwinning bakeries have been shortlisted for top national industry awards.

Kilwinning’s Beth Browning’s Bakery and The Kandy Bar were both shortlisted in the Scottish Baker of the Year 2019/20 competition thanks to the votes of customers and following a rigorous day of judging by 50 of the industry’s top professionals.

Head judge Robert Ross said: “With over 8,000 customer votes and in excess of 30,000 individual products votes, for goods baked by the best bakers in the country, Beth Browning’s Bakery and The Kandy Bar can be very proud of having made it this far.”

“Only the products with the highest percentage in each of the six categories across the three regions were invited to the product judging stage and this year the competition was fierce.”

Alasdair Smith, of Scottish Bakers wh o organis e th e competition, said: “The Scottish Baker of the Year Awards is one of the most prestigious awards a baker can win, with accolades on offer for the best pies, scones, loaves, savoury items, morning rolls, individual cakes and biscuits as well as the ultimate prize, to be crowned Scottish Baker of the Year.

“So we are delighted to once again be giving Scottish bakers the chance to shine and showcase their skills.”

Now that the product judging has been completed, the competition moves to a business footing with only the regional and national category winners eligible to move to this stage which will determine the winner of the Bakery Café of the Year, Craft Baker of the Year, Retail Craft Baker of the Year and the Wholesale Baker of the Year Awards.

One of these winners will go on to be crowned Scottish Baker of the Year 2019/20.

The winner will be announced at a glittering gala dinner at the Crowne Plaza in Glasgow on Saturday, June 8.