A Sweet Goodbye - Merivale Cakes 

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After 40+ years of Wedding Cake Decorating, Mary Reid of Merivale Cakes & Crafts has decided to hang up her apron and enjoy retirement! 

Last Tuesday at the 20th Queensland ABIA Awards, Mary was invited to the stage to accept her appreciation award for her contribution to the wedding industry.

Mary designed over 900+ wedding cakes, had inspired her 20+ students to open their own cake businesses, attended 60+ wedding expos and had shared her valuable knowledge to designing the most intricate & beautiful wedding cakes.

Merivale Cakes & Crafts was a loyal ABIA Member for 12 years who was consistently nominated for the prestigious State & National ABIA Awards, proudly displaying her achievements wherever she went.

If you are interested in what it takes to be a successful business in the wedding marketplace, read the milestones in which Mary had experienced in her time as a professional Wedding Cake Decorator.

2007
Introduced a new competition category

From 2007 to 2018, Mary Reid had introduced & sponsored a new competition category called the Contemporary Cake Decoration section which featured at the Brisbane Ekka and Annual Regional Shows in Toowoomba, Goodbungee, Pittsworth & Crow’s Nest.

2007 – 2018
ABIA Awards

Merivale Cakes had qualified as a Finalist since 2007, however came out on top as the Winner in 2012 with an exceptional rating of 99.12% as voted by the Brides & Grooms of Queensland.  Merivale Cakes also qualified in the Top 3 around Australia in 2012 and No.2 in 2017.
For Merivale Cakes & Crafts' History of Awards & Ratings, click here.

 

2007 – 2016 
Magazine Features

Merivale Cakes regularly featured in the prestigious BSG & Squire's UK Cake Decorating Magazines.

 

2008 – 2018 
Hostess with the Mostest

Merivale Cakes would host 9 international trainers in Brisbane and Toowoomba.
 

2009
The start of a sweet idea

Mary opened her wedding cake shop in Highfields in 2009 to be training to aspiring cake designers and she has now 400+ students & followers. 

 

2009
Networking 

Established preferred supplier arrangements with five regional wedding venues and two retail shops that provide essential tools for their students. 

 

2015
Leading the way

Mary’s top student, Caitlin from Brisbane’s A Little Cake Place took out the Best Wedding Cake Designer Award at the 17th Queensland ABIA Awards.

 

2015
Merivale goes global.

In 2015, Mary organised a cake-decorating tour to travel to UK & Europe, filled with training opportunities, sight-seeing & cake-decorating competitions. Her students went on to win 3 x Awards for their Gallipoli themed cakes at the UK Centenary Legacy Ball.

 

2016
Personal Awards

Mary was awarded Highfields Citizen of the Year

2017
Top Student takes the cake  

Mary’s top student, Caitlin from Brisbane’s A Little Cake Place took out the No.1 Title as Australia’s Best Wedding Cake Designer Award at the 8th ABIA National Designer of Dreams Awards.
 

2017
Inspiring the young 

Mary trained Sophie L. (15 year old) who was hired as an apprentice pastry chef for a 5 Star Gold Coast Hotel.
 

2017
A woman of cakes & words 

Mary completed her 10 year role as a wedding cake feature writer in Your Queensland Wedding Magazine.
 

2008 - 2018
Icing on the Cake 

20 former students from across Queensland, Adelaide and Melbourne open their own decorating businesses.

2008 - 2017
International student tours – journey stats:

• 5 tours
• 91 days away
• 28 students   
• est. 200,000Km travelled
• 21 awards (2 gold, 9 silver, 8 bronze, 2 highly commended);

Mary will now be entering her next chapter writing a book regarding her cake journey & memories over the next 50 years. 
ABIA very much look forward to the publishing of the book and how it will inspire the future business owners to come! 

 

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