A bakery’s iconic Welsh Cakes have been chosen for a starring role in a food-related royal virtual tour of the UK.
The Wrexham-based Village Bakery has featured on the social media channels of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, looking back at their previous visit to the bakery and highlighting the bakery’s traditional Welsh Cakes recipe.
The exact recipe used by the Village Bakery is top secret but one very similar to the real McCoy was posted so people can have a go at making their own versions of the mouth-watering griddle cakes.
According to Village Bakery managing director Robin Jones, they were thrilled and proud to be invited to join the virtual tour.
It was particularly appropriate, he said, that they were showcasing the family firm’s famous, award-winning Welsh Cakes.
Five years ago, Their Royal Highnesses officially opened the company’s new bakery and Baking Academy.
During the visit they saw the Welsh Cakes production line in action and even had a go at flipping them to ensure they browned on both sides.
The origin of Welsh Cakes dates back to the mists of Celtic history and the recipe has its roots in Llan Ffestiniog, near the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog.
It is based on the recipe devised by Elizabeth Hughes, the grandmother of Village Bakery charge hand Gwen Lloyd.
Robin said: “Gwen had a family recipe which she made for us and they were absolutely delicious and it stems back from there.
“Over the years we have improved and developed the recipe and Welsh Cakes are now one of our main signature products.
“Even though we are making them in greater volume we still put in the same love and care and we cook them for the same time.
“We ensure the ingredients are the same great quality and they have won many accolades including at the Great Taste Awards.
“We’ve been making them now for about 15 years and they provide the impetus for the spectacular growth we have enjoyed since then.
“We first started dealing with a major retailer 14 years ago and our Welsh Cakes were the first thing we supplied them with.
“They were so successful and sold so well that the relationship has blossomed.
“They also loved our local sourcing policy and over the years they have taken more and more of our products and that’s been largely responsible for where we are today.
“The Welsh Cakes are sold across the UK, and as far afield as Hong Kong, Singapore and the Far East.
“We were very lucky and proud that The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall officially opened our new bakery and Baking Academy in 2015.
“It was great to see them having a go at flipping some Welsh Cakes and both of them did so with great aplomb. They thoroughly enjoyed it and we loved having them there.
“I am particularly proud that the Village Bakery has been chosen to represent Wales as part of this virtual tour.
“It’s also fantastic recognition for our wonderful workforce who are the secret ingredient in the Village Bakery’s success.”
