Erin Baker

Local baker Liam Dooley has been named Foodstuffs North Island Apprentice Baker of the Year.

He was joined by family and staff members from New World Whakatāne in Auckland last Saturday to celebrate his achievement at the annual Foodstuffs North Island Excellence Awards.

Mr Dooley was chosen from a pool of bakers completing apprenticeships across New World, Pak’n Save and Four Square stores in the North Island.

“I’m pretty chuffed,” Mr Dooley said. “I didn’t expect it because I’ve just been ticking away … I was very humbled to be honoured with that.”

The accolade comes after Mr Dooley successfully completed his three-year bakery apprenticeship at New World Whakatāne.

He officially graduated last weekend along with co-worker Daniel Bilyard, who was completing a course in store mastery.

Along with receiving the award, Mr Dooley was asked to give a short speech on behalf of the bakery cohort for this past year.

He said there were 700 to 800 people in the audience that evening, along with several top company leaders.

“It was pressure on,” he said. “But I think it went all right.”

This is not the first time Mr Dooley has received national recognition for his achievements.

He is also a decorated distance runner, having won the 2021 U20 men’s NZ National Mountain Running Championships and the Hawke’s Bay 2022 Half Marathon, and, in 2021, having broken Whakatāne High School’s 42-year-old men’s 3000-metre dash record.

Mr Dooley’s introduction to baking came through New World’s apprenticeship programme. He originally joined the team at the deli counter before moving over to the bakery when the apprenticeship opportunity came up.

His favourite things to bake now are pies, scones and sourdough bread.

With his apprenticeship behind him, Mr Dooley continues to work in the bakery at New World as a fully qualified baker.

He speaks highly of his time at Foodstuffs and says to anyone interested in baking: “Going through the supermarket is a good way to get in and you can get your qualification; you earn while you learn.

“Foodstuffs is a good place to start. They do really support you and give you good opportunities to grow, and there’s so much option, not just baking.

“You can do butchery, move into the owner-operator programme … it’s really worthwhile.”

Store owner/operator Bruce Jenkins is very proud of Mr Dooley and what he has achieved.

“We are very lucky to have an in-store bakery that produces such high-quality products whilst providing staff like Liam with a qualification and career opportunities that they would be unlikely to get anywhere else.  

“Liam is a very valued member of our awesome team who has a bright future ahead of him, which takes nothing more than passion and commitment to get there.”