The Little Bakery Company Brings a Taste of the Cotswolds to Japan

This autumn, The Little Bakery Company swapped the rolling hills of the Cotswolds for the bright lights of Osaka, taking part in the 58th Hankyu British Fair, Japan’s longest-running celebration of British culture.

The week-long event is a showcase of everything people love about Britain — from tea and tweed to cheese and craft — and this year’s theme, the English countryside, couldn’t have suited us better.

From our village bakeries to the world stage

Representing both our home region and British baking traditions, we joined a handpicked group of independent producers from across the UK. Over 250,000 visitors came to experience a taste of the countryside, and our team was proud to share handmade loaves, pastries and cakes that began life in our bakery kitchen in Moreton-in-Marsh.

It was a joy to introduce Japanese visitors to the flavours, textures and stories behind our bakes — the slow fermentation of our sourdoughs, the careful shaping of each bun, and the heritage of simple, honest ingredients that define the Cotswolds.

A week to remember

Owners Alex and Narda Clavel travelled to Osaka to attend the fair in person, meeting visitors, serving customers and connecting with other artisan makers.

“Taking The Little Bakery Company to Japan was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Alex.
“From the moment we arrived, we were overwhelmed by the warmth, kindness and genuine interest from everyone we met. To see people queuing to try our bakes and to hear how much they love British craftsmanship was truly humbling. We’re deeply grateful to Hankyu and the Cotswolds Plus team for making it possible.”

Flying the flag for rural producers

Our invitation came through a partnership between the Cotswolds Plus Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) and Hankyu Department Stores Japan, which works to connect rural British producers with international audiences.

For us, the experience was about more than bread and pastries. It was about sharing a small piece of the Cotswolds — the care, the craft, the slower way of doing things — with people on the other side of the world who appreciate that same spirit.

From our shops in Bourton-on-the-Water, Burford and Moreton-in-Marsh, to a bustling department store in Osaka, we were reminded that the values we bake by every day at home are what make British food culture so special.