When Alan Davis finished a 20-year stint working at BT as an engineer in 1995, there was only one thing he wanted to do: make really good traditional bread. So he teamed up with his wife Jane to form The Authentic Bread Company. They transformed their garage in Gloucestershire into a fully functioning bakery, and after just a few months of trading, they won their first Soil Association Organic Food Award for their olive bread. The whole family is involved too – Alan’s children Emily and Alex both joined the family business after graduating – and they are all obsessed with finding the best quality organic ingredients available. They use traditional long fermentation and handmade methods of production, which although might take longer, produce really delicious bread with great texture and a superior taste. To date, the Authentic Bread Company has won over 15 awards, including six Soil Association Awards.