From making treats for friends to a shot at a national award, cocktail flavoured cupcakes have proved a winner for one young baker.

Emma Rus, of Farm Holt, New Ash Green, runs The Tipsy Bakery and sells cupcakes inspired by cocktails and alcoholic drinks from her stall at Gravesend’s Saturday fresh produce market.

The Gravesend Borough Market trader has now earned the title of Young Market Trader of the Year for London and the South East and will compete for the national title later this month.

Emma won the grocery category and was named overall Young Market Trader of the Year for London and the South East in the 2020 NMTF Young Market Trader Awards.

She goes on to the national final which will see young traders aged between 16 and 30 and from all over the country set up stall on Waterside in Stratford-upon-Avon on August 28 and 29.

Emma, who turned 30 this month, said: “I started baking for friends as a hobby.

“My friends really enjoyed my cakes and so I started trying to sell through social media.

"I was finding it difficult to reach customers that way and so looked around for a way to get myself in front of people.

“That’s when I had the idea of taking a stall at Gravesend Borough Market.

"I’ve been selling at the Saturday market as often as I can since February, and it’s lovely to see so many regular customers plus meet new people every week.”

Flavours include pornstar martini, espresso martini, raspberry and pink gin, prosecco and Bailey's orange truffle.

Congratulating Emma on her awards success so far, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, cabinet member for community and leisure at Gravesham council, which owns and operates Gravesend market, said: “Emma is the perfect example of what a good, successful local market is all about.

“It’s given a talented young entrepreneur somewhere local to launch and grow their own business. Her success reflects so well, not only on her, but on our market.

“I wish her the very best of luck in the national final when myself, her customers old and new, and all her fellow traders will be rooting for her.”

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

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