Apprentice winner Carina Lepore rescued father’s business and is set to make Lord Sugar a fortune

London café owner Carina Lepore tonight triumphed over Scarlett Allen-Horton to crowned the winner of this year’s Apprentice – and Lord Sugar’s next business partner. 

But the success of this self-described ‘pocket rocket’ entrepreneur extends far beyond the boardroom.

For Carina, 30, has spent the last year working tirelessly to salvage her father’s dream of owning a bakery after his first venture – a modest but much-loved lunch spot in south London – burnt down in 2016. 

Now the businesswoman is the proud owner of Dough Bakehouse, a trendy, Instagram-friendly café under the railway arches of Herne Hill train station, that serves up smoothies, coffee and fresh bakes to a legion of devoted fans.

London café owner Carina Lepore tonight triumphed over Scarlett Allen-Horton to crowned the winner of this year’s Apprentice – and Lord Sugar’s next business partner

Carina with her father Carlos and sister Rachelle at Dough Bakehouse in Herne Hill, south London

Carina with her father Carlos and sister Rachelle at Dough Bakehouse in Herne Hill, south London

Carina, 30, pictured in a glamorous Instagram snap, has spent the last year working tirelessly to salvage her father's dream of owning a bakery after his first venture burnt down in 2016

Carina strikes a pose in a photo shared on Instagram

Carina, 30, pictured in glamorous Instagram snaps, has spent the last year working tirelessly to salvage her father’s dream of owning a bakery after his first venture burnt down in 2016.

The mother has built up the business while raising her son Lucas, seven, a child model who has posed for Marks & Spencer and River Island (pictured together)

The mother has built up the business while raising her son Lucas, seven, a child model who has posed for Marks & Spencer and River Island (pictured together)

Not only that, but she has built up the business while raising her son Lucas, seven, a child model who has posed for Marks & Spencer and River Island. 

With her extraordinary work ethic and ambitions for a national chain (she wants Dough to take on Greggs) it is of little surprise Lord Sugar chose to give Carina the £250,000 investment – even after dubbing her the ‘baker who doesn’t bake’. 

Entrepreneurial spirit is in Carina’s blood.

Her father, Carlos Lepore, founded Ye Olde Bakery, in Herne Hill in 2009, alongside business partner and fellow baker David Bell. No details are known about Carina’s mother. 

Together with her lookalike sister Rachelle, Carina launched a 'new, modern' bakery and coffee shop. Pictured, Carina takes a sip of an iced drink outside the popular London eatery

Together with her lookalike sister Rachelle, Carina launched a ‘new, modern’ bakery and coffee shop. Pictured, Carina takes a sip of an iced drink outside the popular London eatery

Carina strikes a pose in a festive snap shared recently

The entrepreneur in an Instagram snap shared earlier this year

Carina strikes a pose in a festive snap shared recently, left, and in a trendy white outfit, right 

Hard-working Carina shared this snap in 2017 with the caption: 'I'm a go getter so ima go get it'

Hard-working Carina shared this snap in 2017 with the caption: ‘I’m a go getter so ima go get it’

Speaking to a local newspaper in 2013, Mr Bell told how he learnt ‘everything he knows’ about baking from his mentor Mr Lepore. 

Together the men built up a modest bakery with a devoted following. TripAdvisor reviews celebrated the sandwiches and traditional pies, which were served up alongside a variety of fresh loafs, including an Irish Soda Bread from Mr Bell’s mother’s recipe.

The bakery became so popular that lunchtimes became a scramble. ‘Avoid the lunchtime rush hour,’ one visitor warned on TripAdvisor. ‘Things can get pretty mad in there and it isn’t uncommon for a queue to develop that leads right outside the shop.’

Carina, pictured with her winning team made up of former candidates Thomas Skinner, Pamela Laird, Jemelin Artigas and Ryan-Mark Parsons

Carina, pictured with her winning team made up of former candidates Thomas Skinner, Pamela Laird, Jemelin Artigas and Ryan-Mark Parsons

A quick glance at Carina's Instagram account reveals the close relationship she shares with her son, Lucas. She posted this mirror selfie from a visit to Centre Parcs in October

A quick glance at Carina’s Instagram account reveals the close relationship she shares with her son, Lucas. She posted this mirror selfie from a visit to Centre Parcs in October

Seven-year-old Lucas has modelled for big name brands including Marks & Spencer and River Island. Pictured, Lucas strikes a pose in photos from the M&S website shared by Carine

Seven-year-old Lucas has modelled for big name brands including Marks & Spencer and River Island. Pictured, Lucas strikes a pose in photos from the M&S website shared by Carine

Snaps of Carina and Lucas Disneyland and posing on sunny summer holidays appear on her feed. Pictured, Carina and her 'star boy' in a photo shared on Instagram in September

Snaps of Carina and Lucas Disneyland and posing on sunny summer holidays appear on her feed. Pictured, Carina and her ‘star boy’ in a photo shared on Instagram in September

Newspaper reports suggest the bakery relocated to Dough’s current location under the Herne Hill station railway arches in 2016 and reopened under a new name, Bel Ore Artisan Bakehouse. 

But any plans for building on the success of Ye Olde Bakery were cut short when a fire broke out on the premises in May 2017, burning down part of the bakery. 

Speaking to media mogul Claudine Collins in last week’s interview round, Carina told her how she took it upon herself to step in and help her father. 

‘His bakery burnt down,’ she said. ‘I thought, “If there is any way I can help him”. I’ve always wanted a coffee shop, he bakes, so I thought we would merge the two.’

Carina told her how she took it upon herself to step in and help her father. Pictured, the glamorous mother-of-one in a photo shared on Instagram this month

Carina strikes a pose in a snap shared last month

Carina told her how she took it upon herself to step in and help her father. Pictured, the glamorous mother-of-one in photos shared on Instagram this month (left) and in November

Carina, pictured on holiday in Spain in July, dominated in Apprentice tasks and became the most successful candidate ever. Lord Sugar will be hoping for more success going forward

Carina, pictured on holiday in Spain in July, dominated in Apprentice tasks and became the most successful candidate ever. Lord Sugar will be hoping for more success going forward

Together with her lookalike sister Rachelle, Carina launched a ‘new, modern’ bakery and coffee shop. Rachelle described Carina as her 

Dough prides itself in warm, personal customer services – and its range of freshly-baked loafs, cakes, pastries and smoothies.  

Becoming emotional, Carina admitted to Claudine that her father still hadn’t praised her for the tireless work she had put into the business.  

‘Even to this day, he has never said: “I am really proud of you”,’ she revealed, before admitting she has adopted the same hard exterior when parenting her own son. 

A quick glance at Carina’s Instagram account reveals the close relationship she shares with Lucas. Snaps of the pair kissing at Disneyland and posing on sunny summer holidays appear on her feed alongside pictures of his latest modelling jobs.

Carina, far right, strikes a pose with baker David Bell, far left, and other members of Dough Bakehouse staff in a photo shared on the company website

Carina, far right, strikes a pose with baker David Bell, far left, and other members of Dough Bakehouse staff in a photo shared on the company website 

Dough prides itself in warm, personal customer services - and its range of freshly-baked loafs, cakes, pastries and smoothies. Pictured, Carina outside the London coffee shop

Dough prides itself in warm, personal customer services – and its range of freshly-baked loafs, cakes, pastries and smoothies. Pictured, Carina outside the London coffee shop 

In loving captions she calls him her ‘star boy’ and her ‘sidekick’.  

But, in a feeling that will resonate with working parents everywhere, Carina acknowledged that she isn’t always at home with her son as much as she would like.

‘You want to make them see that nothing is too much,’ she said. ‘I am always at work but I want him [my son] to see that if you work hard for your dreams then you can get them.’ 

And Carina’s dreams are big. Sharing them on the show, the entrepreneur said she has visions of having ‘thousands’ of branches with a Dough Bakehouse on every high street of the UK. 

Carina beat recruitment consultant Scarlett Allen-Horton, left, to be crowned the winner. The businesswomen supported each other throughout the process

Carina beat recruitment consultant Scarlett Allen-Horton, left, to be crowned the winner. The businesswomen supported each other throughout the process

Scarlett, pictured centre in last week's episode, had warned her fellow candidates not to underestimate her. Pictured, with Lottie, Scarlett, Pamela and Lewis

Scarlett, pictured centre in last week’s episode, had warned her fellow candidates not to underestimate her. Pictured, with Lottie, Scarlett, Pamela and Lewis

This sense of ambition and self-assurance translated into the tasks, where Carina dominated and became the most successful Apprentice candidate ever.  

Not only was Carina never been brought back to the final boardroom, but she won nine out of the 10 challenges and is the only candidate in Apprentice history to win three tasks as project manager by the end of week 10.

Before starting the show, Carina said other candidates not to underestimate her because of her south London accent because she could ‘put on a suit and be the full package’. 

Future business rivals would do well to heed the same warning. 

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