An esteemed Perth baker is visiting her peers in all four corners of Scotland to learn about their businesses and show the support of the sector for their hard work.
Scottish Bakers president Linda Hill, of Murrays Bakers in Perth, has finally been able to undertake the most vital of presidential roles following the disruption caused by the pandemic.
Her first stop was Newport Bakery’s new shop at West Port in Dundee, run by husband and wife team Kelly and Jamie Scott.
Jamie is a MasterChef Professionals winner from 2014 and the Dundee store is the couple’s second bakery outlet in addition to their well-established restaurant.
They have just opened Wrecking Ball Doughnut shop this month in Dundee and plan to open a 40-cover café in Broughty Ferry in partnership with Daily Grind coffee later this year.
The second stop took in the Keptie Bakery in Angus run by Jane and Allan Eaton.
Keptie Bakery has three shops, two of which they refurbished during the pandemic to prepare the business for future growth.
During the pandemic they innovated to bring fresh baked goods to their local community and introduced home delivered afternoon teas – which were a big success.
And lastly Linda visited Clark’s Bakery in Dundee who pleased Linda with the warm welcome from MD Jonathon Clark, the third generation of the family to take the reins.
They now operate nine shops in Dundee, including the famous 24-hour bakery, with plans to bring an innovative drive-through to the area too.
Linda said: “When I stepped forward as president of our much-valued trade association, which exists for the good of us all, the task I was most looking forward to was getting out and about to visit my peers, learn about their businesses and share knowledge from my own.
“But who could have predicted the 18 months we were about to have.
“But now it is safe to do so, I am on the road and I am hoping to use my tour to spearhead a sense of recovery and positivity about a bright future throughout the member base.
Linda added:“I have seen the most incredible resilience, creativity and dogged support for local communities in the last year so for me I am keen to hear from others about how their businesses have survived and continue to thrive in such turbulent times and what their hopes for the future are.”
