Gala Retail crowns winners of Ireland’s Best Baker 2026
Gala Retail and Virgin Media Television have crowned the winners of Ireland’s Best Baker and Junior Baker of the Year 2026, following a nationwide search celebrating Ireland’s home baking talent.
Now in its second year, the initiative attracted hundreds of entries from home bakers across the country and formed part of an integrated consumer campaign spanning TV, digital and in-store activation. The competition was promoted across Virgin Media Television’s Ireland AM, while activation across Gala Retail’s network of more than 220 independently owned stores helped drive awareness, engagement and entries nationwide.
Finalists competed in a live bake-off at Airfield Estate, Dundrum, where they were judged by baking expert Catherine Leyden alongside TV presenter Cassie Stokes, with the final filmed and aired on Ireland AM.
Vincent Kelly from Douglas, Co. Cork was named Ireland’s Best Baker 2026 for his traditional brown bread, while Lucy Carroll from Moate, Co. Westmeath took the Junior Baker of the Year title for her lemon drizzle cake. The competition featured a total prize fund of €4,500 and was supported by O’Brien Ingredients, Ireland’s leading bakery ingredients supplier.
Gary Desmond, CEO of Gala Retail, said:
“The response to this year’s competition has been fantastic and once again highlighted the baking talent that exists in communities across Ireland. The standard was exceptionally high, with finalists bringing creativity, personality and unique twists on classic recipes.
“Gala stores are at the heart of communities across Ireland, and Ireland’s Best Baker has become a great way to celebrate local talent. Through an integrated consumer campaign spanning television, digital and in-store activity, we were able to engage communities nationwide and further strengthen awareness of the Gala brand while showcasing the exceptional talent and creativity of home bakers across Ireland.”
Ireland’s Best Baker is one of several initiatives by Gala Retail to support and celebrate community involvement across Ireland. With more than 220 independently owned stores nationwide, Gala Retail continues to invest and engage in local communities helping to reinforce its position as a locally focused convenience retail brand.
