Herne Hill trader Carina Lepore, winner of this year’s BBC 1 Apprentice, opened Dough Artisan Bakehouse on Milkwood Road in 2018.
She and her sister Rachelle resurrected their father’s bakehouse, which burned down in 2015, as a modern bakery offering freshly baked loaves, cakes and coffees.
The actual bakers Carlo (Carina’s father) and Dave have over 60 years joint experience in the trade.
Carina, 30, entered The Apprentice with the determination to expand the bakery into a larger city-wide business.
“I believe in signs and last year Lord Sugar drove past the Bakehouse, then a few months later I saw the advert to apply for The Apprentice, so I did,” she says. “The show has been a fantastic experience!”
Standing outside Dough Bakehouse, she told the Blog as the contest started: “Our Bakehouse has a great vibe and I want to share the love with other neighbourhoods.”
Carina told Sir Alan Sugar that she is a natural leader and says people latch onto her because they can benefit from the influence she carries.
She impressed Sir Alan and his companions Claude Littner and Karen Brady from the beginning. She won nine of 10 tasks and was the project manager for three of those wins.
