A father and son duo, from London known for serving homemade Jamaican patties to the local community, have won a televised competition that sees their authentic products making their way onto the shelves of Aldi superstores.
Flake Bake was launched in 2012, four years after Mike Williams’ dad, Paul, bought the retail unit housing the original bakery he worked in when he moved from Jamaica in the 90s. Since then they have sold over six million patties but since entering Channel 4's 'Aldi's Next Big Thing' the scale of the business has skyrocketed.
Mike, 33, said that the victory felt 'surreal'. "I was just a guy making patties in a bakery in Peckham and selling them to anybody that wanted to buy and now we are going to be on a supermarket shelf,” he said.
“It’s such a great accomplishment!"
Flake Bake handmake 20,000 patties a week in their premises and have now partnered with a big manufacturer to keep their authentic look and flavours and supply them to over 1,000 Aldi stores. Mike first heard about the show when his friend sent him a link to an application in June 2023.
"We had a lot of debts coming out of Covid and I thought closing was probably the best thing to do,” he said. “My friend sent me a link to the application and I thought if I am going to close up then I've got nothing to lose.
"Four days after I applied, I heard back from the production company. My dad was in Jamaica and we had a Zoom call with them and they liked the idea of me and my dad working together."
The following months were crazy for the duo, as they had to present their product to Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, work on their packaging and branding and figure out how to expand the shelf life of their patties. "When we realised that we had won, it was just surreal!
"I think me and my dad barely spoke on the drive home because it meant we were going to be on a supermarket shelf. We didn't have any clue and knew we couldn't do that."
Mike explains how since October it has been non-stop making sure the patties are ready and expanding Flake Bake. "After the win the work tripled as we weren't in a position to manufacture the amount of products needed,” he said.
"I worked with a large manufacturer, and we have worked with food influencers. We have gained so many followers and I am getting messages every single day and people coming down to our bakery to buy individual patties."
Flake Bake co-owner, Paul, 54, says: “We have a great relationship, running the business as father and son. The beauty is my son coming alongside me and making it a better business. I love what I do, I love baking, it’s a great product.
“I cannot explain how happy I am right now. I am very proud of my son, without him, it couldn't have happened.” Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK, says: “You can’t help but fall in love with Paul and Mike, and their product tastes beautiful. It’s clear how much care goes into making the product.
“The pastry is unbelievable, every part of it is delicious - I just love it!” Mike and Paul appear on Aldi’s Next Big Thing on Channel 4 on Tuesday, April 9. The series airs every Tuesday at 8pm until May 7.
