FROM BAKERY FLOORS TO NEIGHBOURS’ DOORS: HOW INVICTA TINS HELP ONE BAKER SHARE HIS CRAFT

At Invicta, we cater for bakers of all types and sizes - from independent craft bakers to some of the biggest names in the industry. But one thing unites them all - a love of baking - and our mission is to help bakers from every walk of life achieve their perfect loaf.

For Alex Stryczek from South Wales, baking has been a lifelong passion. He began his baking journey as a Saturday boy in a bakery in Wembley while still at school, before attending bakery college and going on to work at several bakeries across the South of England. One of his career highlights came in the 1990s, when he baked Hovis loaves every weekend for Queen Elizabeth II while she was at Windsor Castle - a true claim to fame and a memory he treasures.

Although worsening visual impairment has meant that Alex is now registered blind and no longer works in a commercial environment, baking remains very much in his blood. "Once a baker, always a baker," says Alex. Today he bakes fresh bread every week for his neighbours, producing sourdough, white and wholemeal loaves using carefully sourced, top-quality ingredients. With a small commercial oven at home and his trusted set of Invicta tins, Alex continues to share his love for bread with those around him.

Alex has recently acquired the entire set of standard bloomer tins from Invicta, appreciating the different options they provide. He particularly enjoys creating rounded top loaves using the deep base tin paired with the shallow top tray.

"The tins are always very well constructed and a pleasure to use," Alex explains. "When I use the deep and shallow rounded tins together, they make the ideal sized slices for sandwiches. The bake is always good and even, with excellent heat dispersal through the tins. I especially like the rounded shape - it gives the sandwiches a great finish."

The design of Invicta's tins is not only versatile but also practical for the needs of modern bakeries and food outlets.

"Unlike a traditional bloomer, the Invicta tins give you the same size slice right from the front of the loaf," Alex notes. "That consistency would be really valuable in cafés and other catering outlets, where every slice counts. Years ago in a Surrey bakery, I remember a sandwich maker saying he had to throw away too much bread because the end slices were too small. With these tins, you avoid that problem - the loaves are more of a barrel shape, which is much more efficient."

Manufactured in heavy-duty aluminised steel, Invicta's new standard bloomer tins are built to withstand the demands of even the busiest of bakeries. Available in a 2-channel tin, 3-channel tin and single tin, each is supplied with a flexible configuration of deep base, shallow top tray and flat lid options. For Alex, this flexibility means he can choose the combination that best suits the type of bread he's baking.

Having used Invicta tins for many years, Alex is confident in their quality: "You just can't beat them - Invicta tins last and they always perform.

Alex's story is a reminder that baking is about more than just the finished product. It's about tradition, passion and sharing with others - values that Invicta is proud to support with bakeware that stands the test of time.