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More on KentOnline
A young baker found a recipe for success after her unique blend of alcohol-infused treats saw her scoop a national award.
Emma Rus, of Farm Holt, New Ash Green, runs The Tipsy Bakery and sells cupcakes inspired by cocktails from her stall at Gravesend ’s Saturday fresh produce market.
The 30-year-old baker's booze-infused treats had already seen her named Young Market Trader of the Year for London and the South East last month.
On Saturday, Emma competed at the National Market Traders Federation's (NMTF) national awards held at the Waterside in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Earlier in the day the Gravesend market trader's culinary skills saw her win the top award in the grocery category at the event before turning her sights on the main prize.
After a hard task, the baker beat off keen competition from 45 other traders to scoop a £500 cash prize.
Judges crowned Emma the Young Trader of the Year and the overall winner of the NMTF’s annual Young Traders Market competition.
Speaking after her win, Emma, said she was worried her 800 treats might not make the journey up to Birmingham but thankfully they all arrived in one piece.
Her cupcakes were ranked over a series of categories but she believes it was the uniqueness of her product which ultimately won over the judges.
She said: "One of the judges said he had never seen anything like them."
It was a great compliment to receive for the young baker, who only started trading at Gravesend Market earlier this year.
Emma said: "I started baking for friends as a hobby. My friends really enjoyed my cakes and so I started trying to sell through social media.
Even then the baker struggled to make an instant impact and it was not until she pitched up a stall that things started to take off.
She said: "I’ve been selling at the Saturday market as often as I can since February, and it’s lovely to see so many regular customers plus meet new people every week.”
On her future plans she added she would be expanding her online offering and hopes to feature at a few other Christmas markets around Kent.
