Marking its 10th year, Woolworths has held its 2025 Baker of the Year competition, crowning two new baker champions from Queensland and Western Australia.
Thomas Parker from Woolworths Indooroopilly won Baker of the Year for his winning hot cross bun. Parker, who began baking at the age of 17, was praised for the hot cross bun’s taste, texture, and fruit-to-dough ratio.
Nicol Strang from Woolworths Forest Lakes won the newly introduced All Star Baker of the Year competition. This competition featured five past winners—four from Australia and one from New Zealand—who were required to create their own baked goods. Strang, the Baker of the Year winner in 2023 and 2024, achieved success through his wreath.
“It’s been a great honour to go up against such great talent and it’s something many of us are always excited to participate in,” said Strang.
“I’ve been baking for over 40 years and I’m really proud that I have the opportunity to mentor new bakers coming into the trade.”
For the past 50 years, Woolworths has baked a range of goods in-store. This competition celebrates the passion and talent of Woolworths bakers each year, showcasing the quality of baked goods produced and delivered.
“The standard is always incredibly high, and this competition is all about the things we love most about Woolworths, the people and the high-quality products that we deliver to our customers each and every day,” said Woolworths Bakery Merchandise manager, Donald Keith.
Woolworths employs over 1,550 bakers, apprentices, and cadets across more than 680 stores nationwide. With its Bakery cadet program, launched in 2022, Woolworths continues to recruit and upskill bakers and apprentices, enhancing their technical baking skills over a 12-month period.