Cupcake contest
Following last week’s successful first ever National Cupcake Week, don’t forget to send in your entries for British Baker’s cupcake window display competition. Winners of the best cupcake-themed display, to promote the week, will win the fantastic prize of two tickets to the prestigious Baking Industry Awards in 2010. For the chance of winning, send your photos to cupcakes@william-reed.co.uk or post them to Elizabeth Ellis. British Baker, William Reed Business Media, Broadfield Park, Crawley, West Sussex, RH11 9RT. Deadline is 30 September.

Greggs concessions
Greggs is considering opening bakery concessions in large stores, said chief executive Ken McMeikan, who is in discussions with a number of other retailers. The company previously had concessions in some Co-op stores, which have since closed.

Budgens sales boost
Musgrave Retail Partners GB, owners of Budgens, has reported a rise in sales of nearly 24%. During this year, Budgens has increased its lines by over 300, and hopes to reach a total of 600 or more by the end of 2009. Extra bakery and cakes lines are among those it aims to add.

Miquel moves on
Lees Foods’ chairman and chief executive, Raymond Miquel CBE, has left the firm. Miquel rescued the firm, which now comprises Lees of Scotland and Waverley Bakery, in 1993 when it was close to bankruptcy, and losing over £1m annually. He made a number of changes including the introduction of management controls and rationalisation of the product range, which saw the business return to a profitable position.

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