Davina Steel, a new gluten-free bakery in Halstead, has been named New Business of the Year at The Business Excellence Awards Essex.
The Business Excellence Awards aim to celebrate success, recognise achievement and highlight the innovative people and companies throughout Essex who are putting their region on the map by boosting the economy while making a positive contribution to the local community. This year’s awards were presented at a lavish ceremony at Five Lakes.
Davina Steel is the only commercial, artisan and gluten free bakery in East Anglia and produces a range of innovative products for food service and hospitality including its award-winning specialist focaccia, snacks and afternoon tea delights which it sells through high street bakeries, tearooms, hotels and other catering outlets.
It fought off strong competition from other local businesses, DigiTech Search and Vision Co-working Spaces, to win the Best New Business award.
“We are absolutely over the moon to win this prestigious award,” explains Davina Steel, co-founder of the business. “We’ve worked very hard to develop our business and create a range of products that are not only delicious but also gluten-free.” As a new business, Davina has had to work not only to develop her products but also to develop her brand. With a strong social media presence and a specific target audience, it is easy to see how her brand has gone from strength to strength. Of course, many new businesses struggle to get off the starting block, failing to navigate the world of social media. Fortunately, with a digital marketing specialist like fueld media, aspiring business owners can build their brand to be just as strong as that of Davina Steel.
The New Business of the Year category was sponsored by leading insurance brokers, James Hallam. The sponsor’s Head of SME’s, Graham Whyatt, said, “We’re looking for a business that is exciting, innovative and has the people behind it and working within in it that will make a strong and long-standing business. Having the passion and drive for a business is essential for success and in our experience when this is combined with a good plan and strategy this success can be achieved.”
Davina Steel submitted its entry back in June and following rigorous judging from a panel of experts and a visit from the sponsors, the bakery was crowned ‘The Best New Business of the Year in Essex’.
The headline sponsor for the event was Invest Essex, who has supported Davina Steel and a number of other businesses in the region. Dave Watson, head of the sponsors, said, “Davina has developed an outstanding business around her multi award-winning products, which in itself is a fantastic achievement. To have done so with such additional barriers and rivers to cross shows incredible passion, drive and commitment. She’s a truly inspirational business woman who is great to work with.”
