News article

28 June 2012

Isle of Lewis pupils take the cake

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PRESS RELEASE

An award winning White Chocolate and Apple Cake, developed by pupils from the Nicolson Institute on the Isle of Lewis, has won the top award in the Stag Bakeries Schools Partnership Challenge. This is an annual competition run by Stag Bakeries which this year challenged pupils to devise a new cake for the manufacturer's product range.

Over 200 students from four local schools on the island took part in the challenge to design a new cake product for the 'food to go' market. The winning recipe will go into production on 2nd July and be available to buy in local shops on 3rd July.

As part of the challenge, the S2 pupils (aged 13-14) learnt about cooking and the science of food. They also developed their business skills, including in marketing, financial management and product development. Over the course of the task, pupils have also learnt how different skills and subjects in the curriculum can lead to different job roles in the future.

This partnership between education and industry was developed by the Scottish Food and Drink Federation's (SFDF) 'A Future in Food'[2] national school's programme to promote careers in the industry. The Education and Children's Services Department of Western Isles Council was also instrumental in enabling the partnership and supporting the schools.

Angus Maclennan, Deputy Head at the Nicolson Institute, said:

“Our partnership with Stag Bakeries has provided a context for pupils to practise and develop skills in a host of different subjects. Pupils can't wait for their winning cake to appear on the shop shelves.”

Colin Daniels, Product Development Manager at Stag Bakeries, said:

“The modern Scottish food industry is an exciting place to be. Working with schools gives us the chance to help pupils, teachers and parents better understand the importance of our industry and the great career opportunities that exist within it.”

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive at Scottish Bakers[4], said:

“This is a fantastic example of a business education partnership that has made a positive impact on so many pupils and enables them to develop both food manufacturing and important business related skills that our sector requires."

Notes to Editors:

Photos are available for download from FDF's Flickr account (additional product images will be available by midday)

  1. Design brief:To design a 'Food to go' product that has commercial potential and will fit alongside the existing range of Stag Bakeries' products and be attractive in both quality and price to the market place. The product can be in any format e.g. a 'flapjack' type product, a single cookie/biscotti type biscuit, a tray bake square or a small individual 'cake' baked in its own tray.
  2. The Scottish Food and Drink and Federation is the voice of the Scottish food and drink manufacturing industry – Scotland's largest manufacturing sector. www.sfdf.org.uk.
  3. A Future in Food works to foster mutually beneficial relationships between schools and the Scottish food and drink industry, helping teachers, pupils and parents better understand the sector and highlighting the wide variety of careers on offer.
    For further information on SFDF's schools programme A Future in Food
  4. Scottish Bakers is the voice of the baking industry in Scotland

More information

FDF press Team:

Nicki Hunt on or 020 7420 7132 - nicki.hunt@fdf.org.uk
Avni Raval or 020 7420 7131 - Avni.Raval@fdf.org.uk
Anna Taylor or 020 7420 7118 - anna.taylor@fdf.org.uk

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