How a Yorkshire dad is putting Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar in a baking bottle

“It was a hobby I guess. I have always baked things or made things,” says Greg, who recalls making meals with friends during his schooldays.

He perfected his culinary skills working as a baker for a supermarket chain at the age of 18, after leaving his native Cornwall to study in Leeds.

But it was the baking sessions with his son, who would have been two or three at that time, where the inspiration for bottling baking ingredients began.

They enjoyed gathering the ingredients and weighing them into small bowls, but mixing them all together brought the greatest enjoyment, as it does with most children, along with the tasting.

Greg recalls it was a wine carafe that gave him the idea to bottle the ingredients. “We had a wine carafe and I decided to put the ingredients in there one day and see what it would look like, and it sparked an idea.”

Initially Greg began taking the bottles he was then preparing at home in his kitchen to local food festivals.

One of the first events he attended in his home city of Leeds was a sell-out in the first few hours, forcing him to bottle more of his baking ingredients to ensure he had sufficient supplies to meet demand during the remainder of the event.

The range of flavours has increased from the three they started with, expanding the choice across the collection of cakes, cookies, muffins and tray bake mixes.

Greg says having the ingredients to hand not only makes it easier, it also avoids wastage from buying bags of ingredients you may only use a few times. Using pre-measured ingredients also guarantees perfect bakes every time, he says.

From a simple pleasurable pastime enjoyed by generations of families, the Bottled Baking Co was born and it continues to grow - with a few collaborations along the way.

The company’s recent collaboration, to the delight of Greg’s now eight-year-old son, is with Leeds-born High Street stalwart, M&S.

Together they have created the perfect Christmas gift for Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig fans – Colin the Caterpillar Brownie Baking Mix and Percy Pig Blondie Baking Mix – with mini white chocolate Colin faces and mini Percy piglets to add the finishing touches to your culinary creations.

Greg explains talks began a year ago when he was approached by M&S to explore options inspired by the brand’s iconic characters.

Naomi Blair, M&S Product Developer, said: “When we came across Greg and The Bottle Baking Co, we were really struck by how creative his recipes were, how beautiful the packaging was and how passionate he and his team are about creating these giftable bottles for families to enjoy. What sets Greg apart is his passion for using the best quality ingredients, something which we also pride ourselves on. Each time we tested the recipes they came out perfectly, so creating something special just for M&S customers with Greg was a joy. We think Percy and Colin fans will be thrilled with these fail-safe gifting creations, ideal as we look ahead to the Christmas season.”

Says Greg: “When my son and I were first baking together in our kitchen back in 2016, I’d have never dreamt that just six years later we might see our Bottled Baking mixes in M&S – let alone collaborating with the inimitable Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar. This project has been months ‘in the baking’ and our whole team has worked so hard to get these bottles ready for launch – we can’t wait for M&S customers to give them a go!”

Being a fan of Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar, Greg says his son couldn’t wait to see the characters containing their bottled baking ingredients on the shelves at their local M&S Food Hall.

“We went into the Food Hall and he ran over to the shelves and was really excited to see them,” says Greg.

Adding: “He is a fan.”

Greg chats enthusiastically about a future collaboration with another iconic duo – Wallace and Gromit – hopefully due to launch in Spring next year.

Interestingly, the Bottled Baking Co’s expanding range also includes a bottled baking range for four-legged friends.

Intended as an April Fool’s prank, the bottled baking range for dogs sparked so much interest following the Instagram post that ‘Doggy Baking Co’ was added to the collection.

“It was put out on Instagram on April Fool’s Day about a doggy baking kit and it went crazy on Instagram, people were wanting to buy them so I thought ‘we need to make this happen,’” says Greg.

The pet gift range is based on the company’s glass bottle concept containing all the dry ingredients to make delicious cakes and treats for dogs.

The range includes three flavours: Pumpkin Seed and Banana Biscuit Mix comprising Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Banana and Pumpkin Seed. Linseed, Oregano & Parsley Baking Mix containing Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Oats, Dried Carrot and Baking Powder; Carrot Cake Mix, Wholemeal Wheat Flour, Oats, Linseeds, Parsley and Oregano.

Another addition to the rapidly expanding Bottled Baking Co range is the twin gift pack, due to launch online. The company is also working on a gift pack to launch into retailers next year.

Greg says they are also looking at introducing savoury lines, and are developing international markets – they already have a presence in Dubai.

Exciting times for a hobby that has outgrown Greg’s kitchen and now operates from a 5,400 square foot warehouse in Hunslet. They also work with a co-packer based in Driffield.

“It is brilliant. It was never planned but everything has happened organically. I was in a full-time job and this was a side-line. To be able to do something you really want to do, and enjoy, and get a lot out of it’s really good and everybody can be involved,” says Greg.

Meeting his customers face to face is another important aspect for Greg, who was due to showcase the brand at the BBC Good Food Show’s Winter Show at Birmingham NEC when we spoke.

Next year he is keen to continue profiling the brand around shows and festivals, as well as pet friendly events.

“It’s nice to see people face to face and talk about the products face to face.”

Christmas is all about cooking, and for those who love to showcase their creative and culinary flair, then the Bottled Baking Co has the perfect gift ingredients with Christmas Mixes – Extravagant Gingerbread Brownie Mix in a Bottle, which Greg admits is his favourite along with the Colin the Caterpillar and Percy Pig mixes. The range also includes Santa’s Winter Wondercake Mix in a Bottle.

Interestingly, for every 100 per cent usable glass bottle bought, one tree is planted in return, with all products handmade in Yorkshire.

For more information visit www.bottledbaking.co.uk. To find out more about the Doggy Baking range visit https://bottledbaking.co.uk/collections/doggy-baking.co.