His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester visits Original Biscuit Bakers

We were delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to our gingerbread biscuit bakery on Thursday, 7th November 2024. The visit, accompanied by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner, and supported by Deputy Lieutenant Nichola Peers, provided a special opportunity to showcase our craft and share the blend of tradition and innovation that makes our gingerbread bakery unique.

During his visit, The Duke was introduced to the management team, including Managing Director Gemma Williams and Co-Founders and Chairs Sarah and Tim Hopcroft. Sarah led His Royal Highness on a tour of the bakery, giving an up-close view of our production process. From hand-decorated gingerbread biscuits to our use of cutting-edge production techniques, we were proud to highlight the care, creativity, and commitment that define everything we make.

Reflecting on the day, His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Mrs. Turner, commented, “It was lovely to welcome The Duke of Gloucester to Shropshire, and in particular to Image on Food in Market Drayton.”

Managing Director Gemma Hopcroft said: “We were truly honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to Image on Food. The visit was a fitting tribute to our talented team’s hard work and dedication to their roles, and provided a wonderful opportunity to showcase our commitment to quality and innovation within the food industry. We are grateful for this memorable day that celebrated our work and the heritage of gingerbread making here in Market Drayton.”

One of the day’s most memorable moments was a presentation honouring members of our team with long-term service awards, presented personally by His Royal Highness. It was a fitting recognition of the dedication and loyalty of four valued colleagues who have been with us for over a decade.

Key gingerbread decorator Christine Ann Higginson, marking 10 years with us, described the experience as “truly special.” She said, “Receiving the long service award and meeting His Royal Highness was a moment I’ll always treasure.” Joanna Brown, who has been part of the team for 11 years, shared, “It’s wonderful to be recognised for the work we love, and having The Duke of Gloucester present made it even more meaningful.”

Beverly Guest, another gingerbread decorator celebrating 10 years, reflected on the recognition with pride, while Dean Cohen, our Engineering Manager with a decade of service, noted, “Being acknowledged by both the company and His Royal Highness was incredibly rewarding.”

The day was a celebration of our staff and their commitment. As Co-Founder & Chair, Sarah Hopcroft said, “Having His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester join us to present the long service awards was an incredible honour. It was a meaningful moment for our team, and a proud occasion to celebrate the dedication and loyalty of four outstanding team members who have contributed so much to our success by helping us consistently design, produce and deliver high quality products.”