Lovingly Artisan, the award-winning bakery with sites at Altrincham Market and in Cumbria, has been shortlisted for five titles at the 2026 Baking Industry Awards (BIA). Winners will be announced in November.
The bakery is shortlisted in the categories of Bakery Leader of the Year, New Bakery Product of the Year, Speciality Bread, Sustainability Initiative of the Year, and Team of the Year. The finalists were revealed after hundreds of entries and weeks of deliberation by a panel of judges.
Other Greater Manchester nominees
Another Greater Manchester business nominated is Most Bakery in Altrincham. Matt Townley of Most Bakery has made it into the Baker of the Year category, going up against Daniel Girling from the Norfolk-based Bread Source, and Gary Kadas from Seven Seeded in Watford.
Other categories this year include Baker of the Year, Craft Bakery Business, New Bakery Product, and Rising Star Award.
History and craft
Lovingly Artisan co-owners Catherine Connor, 58, and Aidan Monks, 65, opened the bakery 17 years ago focusing initially entirely on sourdough. They have two sites - one near Kendal where the breads are made, and a second at Altrincham Market.
The pair work closely with farmers and millers to source flour, championing heritage-grain flours in sourdough baking. They use slow fermentation and organic British flours to make loaves described as full of flavour and nourishment, committed to crafting sourdough bread and artisan bakes using time-honored techniques.
Award highlights and products
Previous highlights include Monks winning Baker of the Year twice, Lovingly Artisan being voted Britain's Best Bakery three times, and winning Great British Loaf of the Year for their Danish Rugbrød. They recently appeared on the BBC's Countryfile programme due to their sustainability credentials.
They sell a range of products from their sites, as well as online, including their Heritage White Bloomer, homemade croissants, and the Dark Chocolate Malt with Orange and Rye Berry Sourdough. Up for an award at the Baking Industry Awards is their new Marmalade and Ginger Sourdough Bake, made with sourdough bread crumbs, marmalade, and ginger.
The Altrincham Market site is open from 7.30am to 4pm every Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. The Lake District site is located in Kendal and is open from 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
