Northumberland's Blissful Pig Vegan Bakery wins award just a year after its formation

The Blissful Pig Vegan Bakery was formed by Anne McNally just a year ago, but its tasty treats are already making quite an impression.

It has won the Corporate Livewire North England Prestige Award for Vegan Bakery, an accolade for small and medium sized businesses that have proven to be the best in their market over the past 12 months.

"I was absolutely blown away to win,” said Anne, who runs the bakery from her home at Greensfield Avenue.

"As a small, fledgling business it’s something we’re really proud of.”

It came about when a customer nominated them for an award

“The awards people asked us if we’d like to be part of it,” she explained. "We didn’t hear anything for a while but then they said we’d won based on the information we had supplied and how our customers had given such positive feedback.”

There was also praise for her strong eco-friendly business ethos.

Anne moved to Alnwick from Yorkshire in 2017 having enjoyed annual holidays to Northumberland for many years.

She went vegan in 2014 and has watched it become an increasingly popular lifestyle choice.

“I had been doing baking for family and friends and one of them got talking to (local cafe) The Running Fox about my vegan cakes and I was able to start supplying them,” she explained.

"That was the catalyst and I started thinking I could make a go of it as a business.

"I started exploring what I could post throughout the UK, such as brownies and blondies (brownies without cocoa) and traycakes.

"I then launched a website in December and started building up my social media profile.

"I think I must be one of the few businesses that has seen a positive impact of Covid. More people have been at home on their phones and laptops and that’s helped me promote the business.

"I was initially using my kitchen but getting the garage properly converted has worked brilliantly. It makes it all seem more professional and I can keep my home life separate.”

For details visit blissfulpigveganbakery.co.uk

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