We’re shining the spotlight on one of our wonderful stockists, Milk From The Hills. We’re delighted to share their inspiring growth story, celebrate the fantastic work they do, and thank them for their continued support!

The Milk From The Hills Story

The Hill family have been farming the Yorkshire region for four generations. James and Alex Hill returned to the family farm in 2018 and launched Milk From The Hills in 2022, with the aim of selling their own milk directly to local customers.

Their core value is to provide fresh, pasteurised, non-homogenised whole milk straight from the farm to the public. However, their offering extends far beyond milk. They also produce and sell milkshakes, frozen yoghurt and, more recently, homemade gelato made using milk from their own herd!

Milk From The Hills now operates vending machines at nine locations across the region, with two additional sites due to open soon.

In May this year, James and Alex opened The Old Grain Silo, their gelato and dessert parlour. Visitors can enjoy a range of homemade gelato, alongside coffee, cakes, thick shakes and a selection of delicious warm desserts.

Supporting Our Partnership

We’re proud to have Milk From The Hills as one of our stockists. They first got in touch three years ago, and it’s been fantastic to watch the business grow from an innovative single vending machine to multiple locations, and now a gelato parlour – they even have their own merchandise range! We’re delighted that our farm collection and seasonal biscuit ranges have proved so popular with their customers and continue to be part of their growing offering.

“We stock Original Biscuit Bakers in our vending machines here on the farm as they are a delicious addition to our ever expanding range. The cow design goes down particularly well, but we stock all the farm range and both kids and adults love them. They catch peoples eyes in the vending machines and when they taste them, they always want another to take home. It’s not just customers that love the biscuits, it’s the staff too, I often see them with a gingerbread tractor on their lunch break!“

James Hill, Managing Director

Why not check out the Milk From The Hills website and socials!

Thinking of Becoming a Stockist?

We’re delighted to announce that we achieved an AA grade in our BRCGS audit and successfully passed our M&S Integrity Audit, reinforcing our commitment to producing safe, high-quality products.

The BRCGS Food Safety is one of the most widely recognised certification programmes in the food manufacturing industry. Achieving an AA grade demonstrates that our systems, procedures and manufacturing practices continue to meet rigorous requirements for product safety, legality and quality.

Prior to the BRCGS audit, we also underwent an unannounced Marks & Spencer Integrity Audit, which forms part of the retailer’s approach to monitoring compliance throughout its supply chain. The Integrity Audit assesses whether a supplier’s systems ensure that products are legal, authentic, correctly specified, fully traceable, and manufactured in line with M&S requirements. It verifies that what is claimed on the product is accurate and can be substantiated. We pleased to successfully pass the audit – receiving a ‘Good’ grading, demonstrating our ability to consistently meet M&S’s rigorous specifications.

Both audits involved detailed assessments of our procedures, documentation, manufacturing processes and working practices. Colleagues from across the business, including Operations, Engineering and Technical, alongside the wider team, played an important role in showcasing the strong attention to detail and continuous improvement that exists throughout the site.

Team members from Image on Food (L to R): Anthony Munt, Operations Manager; Gemma Williams, Managing Director and Becky Baxter, Technical Manager – proudly holding the company’s BRCGS certificate.

Becky Baxter, Technical Manager, commented:

“We’re incredibly proud of these results and what they represent for our business.

‘They reflect the teamwork, commitment and care that colleagues across every department bring to their roles each day. Preparing for and supporting audits of this scale is also a real team effort, and it’s rewarding to see that hard work recognised.

‘These achievements provide independent recognition of the high standards we work to every day and give our customers confidence in the biscuits we manufacture.”

At Original Biscuit Bakers and Billington’s Gingerbread, we remain committed to delivering products customers can trust and these results reaffirm to retailers, stockists and customers that our biscuits are manufactured to the highest standards and that integrity remains at the heart of everything we do.

Whether they’ve achieved the grades they hoped for, exceeded expectations or simply given it their best shot, every learner deserves a little recognition. And what better way to say ‘well done’ than with beautifully hand-iced biscuits from Original Biscuit Bakers?

Celebrate Success with Biscuits Packed with Personality

Rawr-some Results! – Dinosaur Party Pack

If your student has absolutely smashed their exams, our Dinosaur Party Pack is the perfect way to celebrate some rawr-some results. These colourful prehistoric favourites are ideal for marking a truly dino-mite achievement.

Whether they’ve conquered GCSEs, A-Levels or end-of-year tests, these biscuits are guaranteed to make a big impression.

Bear-y Proud of You! – Panda & Koala Party Pack

Sometimes it’s not just about the grades. It’s about the effort, determination and resilience that got them there. Our adorable Panda & Koala Party Pack is a lovely way to show how proud you are.

Whether they’ve exceeded expectations or simply given it their all, these hand-iced biscuits send a simple message: we’re bear-y proud of you.

 Outstanding in Their Field! – Farm Party Pack

For those who have harvested the rewards of all their hard work, our Farm Party Pack is a fitting choice. Packed with charming farm-themed biscuits, it’s a fun way to recognise a fantastic achievement.

After months of revision, they’ve certainly earned their place as outstanding in their field.

A Thoughtful Gift That Everyone Can Enjoy

Unlike flowers that fade or gifts that get tucked away, biscuits bring people together. They can be shared with family, enjoyed with friends or savoured during a well-earned moment of relaxation after a busy exam season.

Every biscuit from Original Biscuit Bakers is created with care, combining nearly 40 years of baking expertise with the skill of our talented hand-icing artists. The result is a gift that’s just as delightful to look at as it is to eat.

Make It Even More Personal

Want to make your exam celebration gift extra special? You can add a personalised gift message to your order, allowing you to share your congratulations in your own words.

Whether it’s a simple “Well Done!”, “We Knew You Could Do It” or “So Proud of You”, a personal message is the perfect finishing touch to a sweet celebration.

Because after all the hard work, revision and waiting, they’ve earned a treat that’s every bit as special as their achievement. At Original Biscuit Bakers, we’re here to help make those proud moments even sweeter!

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These accolades recognise the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship, creativity and quality within the gifting sector, reinforcing its position as a leading artisan biscuit producer in the UK.

Based in Market Drayton, known as the ‘Home of Gingerbread’, Original Biscuit Bakers has spent nearly 40 years creating unique gingerbread and sugar-cookie designs. Each biscuit is carefully crafted and hand-iced by a skilled team, combining eye-catching detail with delicious flavour.

The range spans seasonal collections and year-round gifting, appealing to customers of all ages. Products are available nationwide via the company’s website and through a wide network of stockists, including farm shops, delicatessens, garden centres, visitor attractions and major retailers such as Marks & Spencer and Waitrose. The business is also fully BRCGS certified, ensuring consistently high manufacturing standards.

LUXlife Magazine’s Perfect Gift Awards celebrate innovation and excellence across the global gifting industry, showcasing businesses that create memorable and meaningful products. Announcing the 2026 winners, Awards Coordinator Kaven Cooper commented: “I want to congratulate all of our winners again as they continue to bring such unique items and qualities to the gift table. It’s a pleasure to be part of your success stories.”

Founded in 2015, LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication highlighting leading brands and trends across luxury sectors, from fine dining to retail and gifting.

This double award win highlights Original Biscuit Bakers’ continued commitment to producing beautifully crafted, high-quality biscuits that bring joy to every occasion.

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Whether you’re planning a big garden get-together or a cosy match night indoors, hosting a World Cup party doesn’t need to be complicated. With a few simple touches (and plenty of delicious snacks), you can create a winning experience for everyone. Here’s how to throw a World Cup party that’s guaranteed to score big.

Create the Match-Day Atmosphere

Half the fun of a World Cup party is the feeling of being part of something special. Set the scene with:

• Flags, bunting and decorations in your favourite team’s colours
• Football-themed tableware
• A TV or projector set-up so everyone gets a great view
• A playlist of crowd chants or summer favourites before kick-off

If the weather’s kind, take it outside for a relaxed garden party vibe.

Keep the Food Simple and Crowd-Pleasing

When the match starts, no one wants to miss the action – so keep food easy to grab and share. Top picks include:

• Mini burgers or hot dogs
• Pizza slices or flatbreads
• Bowls of crisps, dips and snacks
• BBQ favourites if you’re hosting outdoors

The key is variety and convenience, so guests can help themselves throughout the game.

Don’t Forget the Sweet Treats

No party is complete without something sweet – and this is where you can really have some fun with the theme. Our hand-iced football biscuits are the perfect finishing touch for your World Cup spread:

• Designed to look just like classic footballs
• Individually wrapped – ideal for sharing or party favours
• A fun addition to dessert tables or grazing boards

They’re also great for popping into party bags or handing out at half-time for a little extra excitement.

Add a Bit of Friendly Competition

Get everyone involved and make the match even more exciting with a few simple activities:

• Score prediction cards
• Sweepstakes
• “Best dressed fan” competitions
• Small prizes (think themed treats or football biscuits!)

It’s a great way to keep everyone engaged – even those who aren’t die-hard football fans.

Ready for Kick-Off?

Whether you’re hosting a big viewing party or just watching with a few friends, it’s the little details that make it memorable.

Adding themed touches – like our beautifully hand-iced football biscuits – is an easy way to elevate your spread and bring a smile to your guests.

So get your snacks ready, pick your team, and enjoy every moment of the tournament.

Explore our football biscuit range and get match-day ready.

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April brought a very special moment to our factory as we welcomed BBC Radio Shropshire presenter Adam Green for a behind-the-scenes visit. We were excited to share with listeners what really goes on behind the scenes at Original Biscuit Bakers as part of the radio’s ‘Factory Setting Series’, from mixing and baking to decorating and packing.

After getting kitted up in full PPE, Adam was ready to explore the factory from start to finish. Joined by our Managing Director, Gemma Williams, he was guided through every stage of our gingerbread‑making process — from dough all the way through to dispatch.

The tour began in the bakery, including a peek at our brand‑new, ginormous mixer, imported all the way from Italy! Adam watched the team performing a clean down of the bakery along with dough being stamped and cut into shapes before heading into our oven room, where he commented on the irresistible smell of freshly baked gingerbread filling the air.

From there, he moved into our decorating area, where he saw the care and craftsmanship involved in sugar pasting and the skill our team put into hand‑icing. It’s this attention to fine detail that truly brings our biscuits to life. During the visit, Adam also stopped to chat with two of our long‑serving decorators, Beth and Ciara, who shared a little about their roles and how proud they are to know their work ultimately brings delight into customers’ hands.

Adam even got to meet one of our robots, learning more about its role in flooding some of our designs with icing, before heading upstairs to explore the world of flow wrapping and packing. Here, he saw how our gingerbread is carefully prepared and packaged, ready for distributors, stockists and, ultimately, customers to enjoy across the UK.

It was a brilliant opportunity to showcase the people, processes and passion behind Original Biscuit Bakers, and we loved sharing our story with BBC Radio Shropshire listeners. A huge thank you to Adam for visiting — and to our fantastic team for being such great ambassadors for our bakery. If you’ve ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes, this was a wonderful way to shine a light on the magic of gingerbread making.

Catch the tour live on BBC Radio Shropshire from 8am each day all week from Monday 20th April, or catch up on BBC Sounds.

On the 13th April, members of our Sales and Marketing teams, along with our Chair, headed out to one of the highlights of the food and drink calendar – the Farm Shop & Deli Show, held at The Nation’s Experience Capital. Whether you’re looking for emerging food trends, outstanding regional produce or fresh ideas for independent retail, this show always delivers, and this year was no exception. 

From the moment we arrived, it was clear that the show was bursting with creativity. Stands were packed with brilliant regional products, exciting new launches and plenty of innovative ideas designed to help businesses stand out on shelf. Alongside the exhibition, the programme of inspiring talks offered valuable insight into the evolving farm shop, deli and speciality food landscape – giving us lots to think about back at Original Biscuit Bakers’ HQ.

One of the real highlights of the day was the opportunity to meet new businesses and have meaningful conversations with people who are just as passionate about quality food as we are, and thinking of ways we could collaborate in the future. We also loved catching up with some of our Image on Food Ltd distributors, including Holleys Fine Foods, The Cress Company, Crème d’Or, Springvale Foods, Shire Foods, Cotswold Fayre Ltd and Cottage Delight. It’s always a pleasure to see familiar faces, share ideas and talk all things gingerbread.

All in all, the Farm Shop & Deli Show was a big day of learning, networking and creative sparks. We came away feeling inspired, energised and excited about the future, with plenty of ideas to feed into our work and explore. A huge thank you to everyone we spoke to – and we’re already looking forward to the next one!

BAKING AT FULL THROTTLE

If 2025 had a flavour, it would taste like sweet success. Over the past 52 weeks, our bakery in Market Drayton turned out an astonishing 4,738,211 biscuits – that’s 666,621 more than last year, a rise of 16.3%! In weight, that’s a mighty 272,087 kg of deliciousness.

Among the millions of biscuits heading out into the world, several creations stole the spotlight. Our Waitrose‑exclusive Panda Face and Avocado biscuits in particular led the charge, joined by the ever‑popular bespoke designs for Marks & Spencer: the Octopus and Christmas Robin. Collectively, they helped make this one of our biggest years yet.

BIG BAKES, BIGGER QUANTITIES

Behind every beautifully decorated biscuit lies an equally impressive mountain of ingredients. Our most‑used staples included icing sugar, flour and shortening — but the heart of our gingerbread heritage stayed strong too, with more than 1700 kg of ginger, 265 kg of mixed spice, 271 kg of cardamom, over 72,000 kg of icing, 70,000 kg of sugar paste, and 33 kg of Billington’s secret spice blend, bringing warmth to every batch.

In 2025 we mixed, stirred, rolled and baked:

• 138,968 kg of Gingerbread mix
• 48,618 kg of Sugar Cookie dough
• 3,270 kg of Billington’s Gingerbread

BURSTING WITH CREATIVITY

We certainly didn’t pause for breath this year, creating 89 biscuit designs — each one crafted, tested, refined and lovingly brought to life in icing. Creativity is part of our DNA, and 2025 proved there’s always room for another adorable animal, seasonal favourite or quirky character in the biscuit tin.

As for customer favourites, this year’s champion continued to be our Assorted Farmyard collection, with a huge 12,809 cases sold (that’s 153,708 biscuits) that headed to shops, garden centres, farm stores, delis and gift retailers.

Our delicious biscuits and excellent, dependable customer service also maintained our outstanding 5‑star average review rating online.

GROWING OUR FAMILY OF STOCKISTS

More people than ever wanted to stock our biscuits in 2025. We welcomed 64 new trade customers, along with two new distributors, plus one new export and corporate partner. This brought us to 252 stockists for the year – a clear reflection of the growing appetite for beautifully hand‑iced gingerbread and sugar cookies.

A SKILLED AND DEDICATED TEAM

Our team grew too, with 18 new colleagues joining our biscuit family. From bakers to decorators and other key production roles, each new recruit has helped strengthen our business as we continue to expand.

Professional development also remained a focus. Across our factory, team members achieved:

• 11 First Aid certificates
• 7 HACCP Level 3 qualifications
• 60 Level 2 Food Safety in Manufacturing certifications

This commitment to training keeps our standards high and our team confident, capable and ready for the challenges of every season.

It was also a highlight to celebrate seven team members reaching their 10‑year service milestone – a testament to their loyalty, hard work and unwavering commitment to Image on Food Ltd.

SUPPORTING CHARITIES AND THE COMMUNITY

Giving back remained central to who we are. In 2025 we raised over £3,000 for good causes and donated thousands of biscuits to charities, local events and community initiatives.

We were proud to support a wide range of causes both locally and further afield — from Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day and the Buddy Bag Foundation to the Ginger & Spice Festival, local school raffles, the Market Drayton Festival of Lights Switch On, Scouts, agricultural tractor runs, libraries, hospitals, schools and many more. Based in the home of gingerbread, community is where our roots run deepest, and this year reminded us how meaningful those connections are.

BIG MOMENTS & NATIONAL RECOGNITION

2025 brought several standout achievements:

• We featured on BBC One’s Inside the Christmas Factory, showcasing the magic behind our biscuits with Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey.
• We achieved an AA+ grade in our unannounced BRCGS audit — the highest possible result and a testament to our unwavering commitment to food safety and hygiene.
• We received a Great Taste Award for Billington’s Gingerbread, celebrating the enduring quality of our heritage recipe.
• We enjoyed fun and creative local collaborations, including sausage making with Fordhall Farm and supporting biscuit decorating with Müller.

We also partnered with fantastic businesses on social media, running unique giveaways with Shropshire Distillery, Planet Doughnut, Flower & White, Burleigh Pottery and Chococo. These moments highlighted our passion for quality, innovation and heritage – values that shape everything we do.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

We continued to strengthen our equipment, spaces and processes across the bakery. Highlights included:

• New Team Leaders and enhanced technical support
• A bakery stamping unit and two new metal detectors
• A gravity sieving system
• Removal of the old cold store and commissioning of a new fridge
• Introduction of captive footwear and a new locker area
• 12 new decorating racks and 660 decorating trays
• A new mixer — and a third robot arriving in 2026

These investments mean we’re ready for even bigger bakes in the years ahead.

CHEERS TO AN INCREDIBLE 2025

As we look back, one thing is clear: 2025 was filled with growth, creativity and community spirit. Whether through millions of biscuits baked, partnerships formed or moments shared with our town and customers, it’s been a year we’re incredibly proud of.

Here’s to even more delicious success in 2026 — we can’t wait to show you what’s coming out of the ovens.

^ L to R: Presenters Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey filming Inside the Factory at Image On Food Ltd

PRESS RELEASE

A Market Drayton business renowned for its creativity and craftsmanship is set to shine on national television as BBC One’s Inside the Factory Christmas Special goes behind the scenes at Image On Food Ltd – home of Original Biscuit Bakers and the historic Billington’s Gingerbread brands.

Image On Food Ltd, based in Market Drayton – famously known as the ‘home of gingerbread’ – welcomed Inside the Factory presenters Paddy McGuinness and Cherry Healey in September 2024 for an exclusive look at the fascinating process behind its much-loved hand-iced biscuits.

The festive episode follows the journey of Original Biscuit Bakers’ Christmas range, focusing on the popular Santa and Reindeer biscuit design. Viewers will see every step of the process, from the arrival of raw ingredients to the finished biscuit treats ready for dispatch across the UK. Along the way, the programme will showcase the artistry and precision that goes into creating these delights, including mixing the delicious signature dough, rolling, cutting, baking, robotic flooding and the intricate hand-icing by talented artisans that makes Original Biscuit Bakers’ creations so distinctive in quality.

^ Original Biscuit Bakers Santa gingerbread biscuit dough being cut.

^ Original Biscuit Bakers Santa post-sugar pasting stage.

^ Original Biscuit Bakers gingerbread Santa being hand-iced decorated.

Original Biscuit Bakers has been delighting customers for more than three decades with its hand-iced biscuit novelties, stocked in quality farm shops, visitor attractions and national retailers such as Waitrose and Booths. Their Christmas collection includes festive favourites such as Santa, Reindeer, Gonk, Snowman, Snowflake, Santa Man and Penguin – each biscuit lovingly crafted and decorated to bring joy to every celebration.

Although the episode focuses on Original Biscuit Bakers’ festive creations, Image On Food Ltd is also home to another Shropshire icon – Billington’s Gingerbread. Crafted in Market Drayton since 1817, this historic recipe combines secret spices, a dash of rum and golden syrup to create crisp gingerbread fingers that have been enjoyed for over 200 years. This enduring tradition sits alongside the company’s innovative hand-iced biscuits, making Image On Food Ltd a true champion of both heritage and creativity.

The business continues to go from strength to strength with production continuously ramping up. Last year alone, the factory produced an astonishing 3,686,460 gingerbreads – weighing in at 185 tonnes – across 94 hand iced designs.

^ L to R: Inside the Factory presenters Cherry Healey and Paddy McGuinness at The Fields Kitchen in Market Drayton, holding hand-iced Reindeer and Santa biscuits from Original Biscuit Bakers.

Managing Director Gemma Williams said, “We were delighted to welcome the Inside the Factory team to our factory and share the passion and craftsmanship that goes into every biscuit we make on site. Gingerbread is such an important part of our local heritage here in Market Drayton and we’re proud to keep this tradition alive while continuing to innovate and bring joy to our customers across the UK. It was a wonderful experience to meet Paddy and Cherry – they were genuinely interested in every detail and brought such energy and excitement to our factory. We hope viewers enjoy getting a sneak peek behind the scenes and seeing the care and creativity that goes into every biscuit we produce.”

The Christmas Special episode of Inside the Factory featuring Image On Food Ltd will air on BBC One on Tuesday 23^rd December at 8pm, offering viewers a unique glimpse into the world of gingerbread and hand-iced biscuits. For more information about Original Biscuit Bakers and Billington’s Gingerbread, visit: https://imageonfood.co.uk.

Earlier in November, we were delighted to supply 500 of our undecorated Gingerbread Jacks to the Müller UK & Ireland Corner team for their internal launch activity, which celebrated their brand-new Limited Edition Gingerbread Men & Choc Biscuits Corner.

This seasonal yoghurt is packed with festive flavour, combining creamy vanilla yoghurt with crunchy spiced gingerbread pieces and chocolate biscuit balls. Available exclusively at Tesco, it adds to the popular Müller ranges already on the shelves, offering a nostalgic taste of Christmas in every spoonful.

To mark the launch, Müller invited colleagues to take part in a hands-on gingerbread decorating activity. With sleeves rolled up and the festive spirit flowing, team members decorated their own unique gingerbread people using our blank Gingerbread Jacks as the starting point. Charlotte from our Marketing team had the pleasure of visiting the Müller factory during the activity and loved seeing the team’s enthusiasm and excitement first-hand. The creativity on display was fantastic – from traditional festive designs to imaginative characters, every biscuit became a tiny piece of edible art.

The activity was a brilliant (and delicious!) way to celebrate a new product that perfectly captures the warmth and fun of the Christmas season. Market Drayton is steeped in gingerbread heritage, and collaborations like this remind us how special it is to be part of that story. For generations, gingerbread has been at the heart of our local identity – and seeing both Original Biscuit Bakers and Müller continue to celebrate that tradition in our own unique ways is wonderful. Whether through hand-decorated biscuits or innovative new yoghurt creations, we love seeing gingerbread continue to inspire joy, creativity and community.

If you’re heading to Tesco, keep an eye out for the Limited-Edition Müller Corner Gingerbread Men & Choc Biscuits Yogurt a festive treat not to be missed!