Supported by the International Baking Industry Exposition (IBIE), the Tiptree World Bread Awards represent distinguished honors celebrating America’s bread community. Founded in 2017 by Caroline Kenyon, the awards for the first time this year not only celebrate 13 regional Bread Heroes, but also an additional selection of special awards. These included the Brook Food Dream Team Award, KitchenAid Home Baker Hero, Shipton Mill Real Bread Hero, Tiptree Outstanding Achievement Award, Wright’s Flour Award for Innovation, and Zeelandia Award for Sustainability. 

Of note, Josh Allen, founder and owner of St. Louis-based Companion Baking, received the 2021 “Sustainability Hero” at the Tiptree World Bread Awards, America’s leading awards celebrating the bread community. Allen was also named a Midwest runner-up in the Bread Heroes competition. 

The contest’s overall winner and Southeast regional Bread Hero is Manolo Betancur of Manolo’s Bakery in Charlotte, North Carolina. Betancur believes strongly in supporting his local community and uses his influence for the greater good. The team worked hard during the pandemic raising funds to ensure every child in Mecklenburg County had a cake on their birthday, putting smiles on the faces of those in need.

Other regional winners include Mo Cheeks of Bread & Justice, Madison, Wisconsin, in the Midwest; Shiri Reuveni-Ullrich of Rising Above Bakery in Bergen County, New Jersey, in the Northeast; Guy Frenkel of Cast Your Bread in Los Angeles, in the West; and Don Guerra of Barrio Bread in Tucson, Arizona, in the Southwest.

Congratulations to these amazing bakers, who exhibit a special dedication to our craft and dynamic industry.