A Cardigan baker has been crowned a World Bread Awards Hero.
Osian Jones of Crwst was crowned the winner of the Tiptree World Bread Awards Heroes with Brook Food for Wales, in a special online awards evening on Tuesday. 13 October.
When Osian (pictured) was forced to close his Crwst café in Cardigan as the country went into lockdown, he decided to adapt his business; providing door-to-door delivery so he could keep the local community supplied with bread.
His weekly order consisted of 200 loaves, all of which were hand mixed and hand shaped by Osian himself.
To fulfil the orders, on Thursdays and Fridays Osian would start work in the bakery at 1am.
In addition, he supported local pork producers Myrddin Heritage by providing bread for their ‘breakfast boxes’.
Speaking to the Cambrian News this week, Osian said: “I feel totally humbled to have won this award for Wales.
“I loved doing my bit for the community during such hard times for everyone, but to be recognised for my effort is a real bonus! Totally chuffed.
“We’re lucky to have won numerous awards since we’ve started Crwst, such as The Guild of Fine Food’s Great Taste awards, for our products.
“Our sea salted caramel, using only Welsh dairy and Pembrokeshire sea salt, just received two stars and we won UK’s Best Rural Start Up business at the Rural Business Awards.
“During lockdown, friends and family were amazing to me and my partner Catrin, but most of all our ‘Crwstomers’ – without their continued support we wouldn’t be doing what we do today.
“With another lockdown just around the corner, our online shop will be open to take orders for our bake-at-home kits.
“Unfortunately our café will have to close, but our grab-and-go takeaway service will continue. Where you can pop in, buy a loaf, a doughnut or a treat to take away – with all Covid measurements in place.”
Catrin Jones, one of the nominators, said: “Osian worked extremely hard to provide the local community with bread over lockdown.
“Despite the crazy working hours, he always maintained a positive attitude. Customers and the local community are always his number one priority.”
In normal times, the awards celebrate the bread; hundreds of loaves would be delivered for assessment by a panel of esteemed judges. Instead, in a special edition for 2020, the awards recognise the people behind the loaves: the bakers, millers and farmers.
Hundreds of nominations for the Bread Heroes were sent in from across the UK.
“All the nominees in this year’s awards truly deserve recognition for their generous, considerate and often altruistic initiatives to help others,” said Stephen Hallam, chairman of the judges.