Search for the Best Buns

Press release
9 January 2007

Search for the Best Buns

With Christmas having only just been wrapped up, the organizers of the Champion Flour Easter Bun Bake Off already have their sights set on Easter, as the hunt begins in earnest to find New Zealand’s best hot cross bun baker.

Goodman Fielder Commercial Business Manager, Paul Howley, said while it seems early, the bake off officially gets underway on 1 February.

“Public text voting will determine five regional finalists selected from each of the six regions across New Zealand.”

The six regions are Northland to Auckland’s North Shore, rest of Auckland City, Waikato to Wanganui/Hawkes Bay, Manawatu to Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough to Christchurch and Ashburton to Southland.

“Once the five regional finalists have been determined by public text voting, the judging panel will look at a range of criteria to select the winners,” he said.

“The criteria includes straight and over crosses, application of the bun glaze, crust colour, symmetry and batching of product, crumb softness, crumb texture, even dispersal of fruit, and a good aromatic flavour.

“Each bakery must also use at least three Champion products, one of which must be flour.”

Paul said the Easter bun hunt was now in its fourth year.

“For the first year since it began, the public will now be included in the judging process via a text voting system.

“Each bakery registered in the competition will display a four digit code in-store which customers simply text to 4554.

“Customers will only be able to vote once, therefore, they need to make sure that their vote counts.

“Each valid vote also enters the user into a draw to win a $500 travel voucher.”

This year, regional leaderboards will also be displayed and regularly updated on the official website - www.championflour.co.nz The leaderboards will show the top 15 bakeries in each region in alphabetical order.

Bakeries who want to participate in the Champion Flour Easter Bun Bake Off should register with Goodman Fielder.

Voting opens on 1 February 2007 and closes on 16 March 2007.

“The regional finalists and Grand National winner will be announced by 26 March 2007 just in time for Easter when hot cross buns are in even hotter demand.”

ENDS

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