The Fabulous Bakin' Boys wear the Bounce Back Crown

The Great British Bounce Back project was launched earlier this year to showcase food and drink firms big, medium and small that are successful despite the recession. Staged by William Reed Business Media, publisher of Food Manufacture and organiser of Foodex the UK show for food and drink processing, packaging and logistics the competition celebrated the success of food and drink firms that are 'bouncing back' to deliver success out of adversity.

British food and drink manufacturers were invited to submit a statement explaining why they deserved the title Great British Bounce Back Champion. Visitors to Foodex 2012 selected the Fabulous Bakin' Boys as the winner from a list of nearly 20 contenders.

World's first ​

Its winning statement was: "Innovation is at the heart of everything we do. Last year we launched the world's first portion of fruit bakery snack. This year we launched the first ever range of individually wrapped mini cupcakes and muffins after a £3M investment in a fully automated packing line."​

Gary Frank, the firm's self-styled head boy, said: "We are really pleased to have won this award, and for being recognised within the industry for the investment we have put in to our machinery that enables us to produce fabulous innovative bakery snacks people will buy time and time again."​

The £3M investment in an Ulma automated packaging line enables the bakery to individually wrap mini cupcakes and muffins. It also increases the plant's capacity and improves efficiency.

Foodex 2014 ​

Meanwhile, Foodex 2014 will take place between March 2426 2014 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham. To find out more about exhibiting, call Foodex sales manager Mitch Broadstock on 01293 610365 or email him at mitch.broadstock@wrbm.com.

Next year's event is being planned by a special advisory group, which includes key industry professionals. Founder members of the group include: Martyn Garrod, md Handtmann, Mark Bishop and James Sydenham, joint mds of Interfood Technologies, Jim Campbell, md Multivac UK and Ken Mossford, md of Reiser UK.