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.”

Here at Original Biscuit Bakers, we believe in the power of creativity, community, and collaboration. We’re thrilled to introduce our latest product development, Cyril the Squirrel, a charming and delicious treat created in partnership with Carrs Pasties for their work with Bolton Hospice.

The Inspiration Behind Cyril the Squirrel

The idea for Cyril the Squirrel started with a simple yet meaningful goal: to create a fun and unique product that not only delights customers but also supports a vital community service. Bolton Hospice provides compassionate care and support to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses, and Cyril Squirrel is here to contribute to their mission in a delicious way.

From Concept to Creation: The Journey of Cyril the Squirrel

Step 1: Hand-Drawn Stencil Every great creation begins with a spark of imagination. For Cyril the Squirrel, our talented team of designers and bakers started with a hand-drawn stencil. This initial sketch captured the whimsical essence of Cyril, with his playful pose and endearing features. Our goal was to design a character that would bring joy and a smile to anyone who saw – or tasted – him.

Step 2: Crafting the Cutter With our hand-drawn stencil in hand, we moved to the next stage: transforming the sketch into a tangible tool. Using our state-of-the-art CNC (Computer-Numerical-Controlled) machine, we meticulously cut out new stampers that would serve as the decorating cutters for Cyril the Squirrel. This process ensured precision and consistency, allowing us to replicate Cyril’s charming shape perfectly in every batch.

Step 3: Baking and Hand-Decorating The true magic happens in our bakery and decorating room. Our skilled bakers prepare the gingerbread dough, using a special blend of spices and delicious golden syrup. Once baked to golden perfection, it’s time for the artistry to shine. Each Cyril the Squirrel cookie is hand-decorated by our talented team, who bring the character to life with intricate icing details. From his expressive eyes to his bushy tail, every element is carefully crafted to ensure Cyril looks as delightful as he tastes.

Join Us in Celebrating Cyril the Squirrel

We invite you to try Cyril the Squirrel and share in the joy of this special creation. Whether you’re a fan of decorative biscuits, a supporter of community initiatives, or simply someone with a sweet tooth, Cyril is sure to bring a smile to your face. Look for Cyril at Carrs Pasties locations to taste and share in the delight. For each biscuit sold £0.50 will be donated to Bolton Hospice, together, let’s make a positive impact, one delicious bite at a time.

Image @ Carrs Pasties

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our latest sweet creation – Narwhal Cookies, available exclusively at Waitrose!

At Original Biscuit Bakers, we’re passionate about crafting whimsical treats that bring joy to every bite, and our Narwhal Sugar Cookies are no exception. Inspired by the enchanting beauty of the ocean and the mythical charm of narwhals, these adorable cookies are sure to capture your heart and tickle your taste buds.

What makes our Narwhal Cookies so special? Let’s dive into the details:

Whimsical Design: Each Narwhal Cookie is lovingly handcrafted to resemble these majestic creatures of the sea. From their spiral horns to their graceful fins, every detail is meticulously crafted to capture the essence of narwhals in cookie form.

Irresistible Flavor: Sweet, with a hint of vanilla, our Narwhal Cookies are a delight for the senses. Made with the finest ingredients and traditional recipes, they’re a treat that’s as delicious as it is adorable.

Exclusive to Waitrose: You won’t find our Narwhal Cookies anywhere else! Available exclusively at Waitrose, these charming treats are the perfect addition to your shopping basket during your next visit to the store.

Perfect for Every Occasion: Whether you’re hosting a birthday party, planning a summer picnic, or simply treating yourself to something special, our Narwhal Cookies are sure to make a splash! They’re a fun and festive addition to any celebration.

Available Now: Ready to embark on a taste adventure with our Narwhal Cookies? Head to your nearest Waitrose store to pick up a pack today! They’re waiting to add a sprinkle of magic to your day.

Get ready to unwrap the magic as the show takes you behind the scenes of the home of gingerbread! From the sweet scent of baking gingerbread to the the skilful work of our talented decorators, “Secrets of the Christmas Factory” will reveal the heartwarming stories and intricate processes that go into creating our delightful gingerbread creations.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to share our passion for creating festive treats that add a touch of sweetness to your holiday celebrations.

We hope this special feature on “Secrets of the Christmas Factory” brings a smile to your face and a sprinkle of joy to your holiday season!

Our Stands

Our company proudly played a significant role in the festival’s success, contributing two stands that added a dash of enchantment to the festivities. On one stand, we treated festival-goers to a mesmerising array of Halloween delights, alongside a sneak peek into our festive Christmas products. As an extra treat, we showcased assortments of the renowned Billington’s gingerbread biscuits!

But that’s not all; our second stand hosted a gingerbread decorating station, turning the festival into a participatory experience. Attendees young and old got involved in the joy of personalising their gingerbread creations.

As a company deeply rooted in the community, we took our commitment a step further by sponsoring the children’s area. We also proudly supported the Heritage Gingerbread Trail, a delightful journey through the culinary heritage and history of Market Drayton.

The winners of this year’s Gingerbread Heritage Trail

Deputy Mayor’s Category

Children’s Choice

The festival wasn’t just a celebration of flavours; it was a testament to the rich heritage of Market Drayton and the community spirit that binds us all together. Here’s to the Market Drayton Ginger and Spice Festival—where tradition meets innovation and community spirit thrives!

Buddy Bag Foundation presented 5 BBF awards which were sponsored by The Lunn Agency and 9 CSR Accreditation Associate Awards!

A huge congratulations to all of their award winners;

• Going the Extra Mile Award – Image on Food on Food (Gingerbread Warriors) presented by Karen & Chris Williams
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Jane Probert presented by Dr Paul Sabapathy CVO OBE Former Lord Lieutenant of West Midlands
• Ambassador of the Year Award – Katie Leedham, Be More Roar presented by Deputy Mayor of Lichfield Cllr Sam Schafer
• Top Fundraiser of the Year Award – THE Pallet Network Ltd presented by Narinder Kaur – Senior Worker – Roshni Birmingham Refuge
• Making a Difference Award – Mark Tonks (The Long Walk Home) presented by Gemma Williams, BBF Angel – Image on Food

These students wanted to experience History especially after months of online lessons and their vision was also that this will not only benefit current students at The Grove School but would also be a valuable asset to the local junior schools in the area and the local community.

The Anderson Shelter was offically opened by the Mayor of Market Drayton after students, staff and volunteers dedi- cated several weekends to creating it. Sarah was presented with Flowers as a recognition for generously funding the school, this was also made possible with the fundraising by the students and donations of materials by local businesses.

Our journey to complete Tough Mudder was filled with sweat, grit, and moments of doubt. Yet, with each obstacle we overcame, our troops found motivation from the knowledge that our efforts were making a meaningful impact to a wonderful cause! All members of the team managed to concur the grueling course with nothing more than a few scrapes, bruises and VERY sore legs! Completing the challenge walking hand in hand through the finish line.

All of the teams hard work and dedication helped raise £1,820 for the Buddy Bag Foundation, 100% of the funding will go towards assembling special curated Buddy Bags containing vital items for children in emergency care and refuge centers.

We want to say a huge thank you to everyone who generously contributed to our JustGiving page. Your support has been instrumental in helping us make a real difference through our Tough Mudder achievement. Your donations have not only inspired us but have also directly contributed to the vital mission of the Buddy Bag Foundation. We couldn’t have done it without your kindness and belief in our cause!

We sponsored Clive Jones who flew out to the Czech Republic to take part in the World Archery Para Championships which took place 17th to 23rd of July 2023. We donated £700 for this amazing event, and we also designed a sponsored polo shirt for Clive to model at the event!

The update and some kind words from Clive – “To all my friends, Family and Supporters.
Now I have returned from the Czech Republic, I Just thought I’d give a

brief update of how the World Para Championships went for me.

Firstly, it was lovely to meet up with my other international archers from around the globe, to meet old friends and to make new ones. It was great to be with them once again.
The qualification round took place and, in all honesty, the first session in the morning couldn’t have gone any worse. I struggled with everything from the heat, the Humidity and of course my thoughts. I eventually got back on track and shot well, finishing the round with a International personal best.

It was then into the knockout/Head-to-Head round. I won the first match 7-1 and went through to the Quarter Finals. I then came up against Matteo, a great archer from italy. Sadly, I lost this round and any chance of getting on the podium had gone. Matteo then went on to win the World Championships.

The world rankings have now been updated and released and I can quite happily say that I am now number 4 in Europe and number 6 in the World in my respective category. Progress is being made, there is however a lot more to go.

I continue to learn, train and practice ready for the European Championships in Rotterdam on the 16th of August.
May I thank all my Friends, Family and supporters for their best wishes and in particular the Original Biscuit Bakers for their continued support of me. Their financial sponsorship, which enabled my spotter and I to compete in this event is very much appreciated.”

With determination and a bit of gentle persuasion, our courageous team of 10 members stepped up to participate in this demanding challenge. Despite most of us not being particularly fitness-oriented and having no prior experience with such rigorous trials, we’re prepared to give it our all – even if that means crawling our way across the finish line! The 15k course spans an impressive 15K of running, coupled with 30 horrific obstacles, like the Arctic Enema, Electroshock Therapy and Cry Baby!

Our goal is to successfully conquer this grueling course while raising essential funds for The Buddy Bag Foundation. The foundation focuses on providing crucial support and necessities to children who find themselves in emergency care and refuge centers during very difficult times.

These children often come from situations of domestic abuse, arriving with nothing but the clothes on their backs. The Buddy Bag Foundation steps in to offer these children the provisions, comfort, and care that they so desperately require. In the UK alone, a staggering 48,000 children require emergency care annually. To extend a sense of comfort and love, the Buddy Bag Foundation furnishes these children with specially curated Buddy Bags, containing vital items. Operated by a dedicated cadre of volunteers and ambassadors, the foundation ensures that every penny raised directly contributes to the cause, exemplifying their commitment to making a genuine difference.

Any contribution you can make, regardless of its size, will be deeply appreciated and will contribute to the ongoing operations of this incredible foundation.

To donate, please visit our JustGiving page here.

Meet The Team!

Gemma

Managing Director

Anthony

Operations Manager

Penny

HR/HS Co-ordinator

Owen

Production Operative

Lucie

Digital Marketing Executive

Dean

Engineering Manager

Keisha

Production Operative

Victor

Production Operative

Dotty

Production Operative

Owen

Production Operative

Gingerbread Jack

Company Mascot

Wish us all luck!

We’re going to need it…