Best Companies | Mademoiselle Desserts Company Profile

To say this bakery enterprise makes desserts doesn't quite capture the flavour of the business. Yes, Mademoiselle Desserts will serve up a nice cheesecake for you but there are also flans, pies, tarts, scones, traybakes, pastry bases, carrot cakes and mille-feuilles. Gluten-free varieties and a vegan range is available, too.

The group operates mainly in France, but also has a site in the Netherlands and three in England: in Maidenhead, where it operates under the Handmade Cake Company brand, Taunton and Corby. The workforce in England totals about 500.

Staff are encouraged to use their innovation and creativity, remembering that: “We show up to work every morning for all those who love great pastry.” The company's core values are delight, respect, passion and commitment. Experimentation in the English kitchens recently produced a chocolate orange Jaffa pudding and a vegan chocolate salted caramelised biscuit cheesecake.

Mademoiselle Desserts operates an ethical charter under which employees must be committed to avoiding discrimination, upholding basic human rights and contributing to its environmental aims by reducing waste and optimising energy consumption.

It also has a responsible purchasing policy that includes using ethically sourced ingredients.

The origins of the business go back to 1984, when the first French site opened in the Dordogne. The Ministry of Cake, now Mademoiselle Desserts Taunton, joined the group in 2017.

A spotlight on

Mademoiselle Desserts

View the latest achievements

Giving Something Back

47% of staff agreed

This organisation has a strong social conscience

Charities are given the opportunity to take cakes for coffee mornings and the company regularly sends items to homeless shelters. Under its environmental strategy, it reduced the use of palm oil, cut waste and encouraged recycling. It also follows a programme of corporate social responsibility.

Leadership

63% of staff agreed

I have confidence in the leadership skills of the senior management team

During the pandemic, Mademoiselle Desserts maintained communication with its staff, providing business updates and information about furlough arrangements. For several months of lockdown, the business helped financially by topping up furlough payments and making sure that people were never impacted more than absolutely necessary. It also sent wellbeing messages.

My Manager

59% of staff agreed

My manager cares about how satisfied I am in my job

During the pandemic, most managers had some furlough time. The directors were also on furlough at times but, when they were working, they made Microsoft Teams calls to update colleagues on how the business was doing, as well as to offer advice and support. The company produced mental health awareness updates.

Giving Something Back

47% of staff agreed

This organisation has a strong social conscience

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Giving Something Back

Best Practice

Leadership

82%

63% of staff agreed

I have confidence in the leadership skills of the senior management team

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of

Leadership

Best Practice

My Manager

96%

59% of staff agreed

My manager cares about how satisfied I am in my job

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My Manager

Best Practice

Organisation established in

1983

Total number of UK employees

Number of UK locations

Employee average age

66% : 34%

Male : Female employee ratio

30%

Employees earning £35k+

28%

Employee turnover (voluntary)

Quote from the top...

Our employees are the most important part of our business, and ensuring they remain highly engaged and motivated is crucial to our success. As engagement increases within the team, performance will undoubtedly follow, and it’s this fundamental aim that will lead the charge towards improving the culture across all three of our sites

Nigel Taylor, UK Group Managing Director - Mademoiselle Desserts

Long Service

Companies where at least 40% of the staff have worked there for more than five years.

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