Birthday surprise for baking icon Mary Berry
BAKED goods firm Finsbury Food Group has marked the 90th birthday of one of Britain’s most beloved baking icons Dame Mary Berry.
Organised in secret by Mary’s daughter and business partner Belles Berry, Finsbury presented the baker with the cake as a heartfelt thank you and a fitting tribute to the business relationship that has been fostered between Finsbury and Mary for over eight years.
Finsbury has produced a range of Mary Berry licensed cakes and has collaborated on the range with the TV baker to produce a high-quality level of cakes that also bring a homemade touch to supermarket shelves. This has included the likes of the Mary Berry Raspberry Ripple Cake and Indulgent Chocolate Cake.
The 90th birthday cake was a floral-themed lemon cake – Mary’s favourite flavour – and was crafted by Finsbury’s expert development team in Cardiff and delivered to her surprise party on 12 April.
Designed to reflect Mary’s love of gardening as well, the cake featured delicate sugar flowers and fresh lemon cheesecake frosting and was accompanied by matching cupcakes for guests to enjoy or take home.
Jill Downs, innovation director at Finsbury, and Denise Williams, innovation manager at Finsbury, both designed and made the cake themselves in honour of the firm’s close relationship with Belles Berry and deep connection to the Mary Berry brand.
Andrew Scott, brand manager at Finsbury Food Group, said: “We were truly honoured to be asked. Mary Berry is a national treasure and has been a valued partner of ours for many years.
“Creating this cake felt like a very special way to mark her 90th and also to celebrate the wonderful collaboration we’re shared.
“Jill and Denise poured so much care and love into the design – it was a real labour of love.”
Belles Berry said: “We’ve worked with Finsbury for nearly a decade and this gesture was such a touching way to highlight our partnership.
“The cake was everything Mum loves – a lovely lemon sponge with lemon curd, decorated with primroses. It was beautiful, and she was genuinely surprised and delighted.”
