Every high street needs a bakery
The community of Dunbar has a lot to be excited about, as they anticipate the opening of their new community-owned bakery on 6 October, the only one in town. It all started in 2008 when the long-standing Smith’s family bakery, which had been serving the residents since the mid-1800s, closed when the owner retired. Market research was carried out to determine the need for fresh bread in the area, and the findings were summed up by the sentiment that ‘every high street needs a bakery’.
Meetings were held, attracting dozens of people. There was a ground swell of support as local voluntary, church and community groups came together to find a solution. With the help of the local development trust, the plan to reopen the former Smith’s bakery as a sustainable, community-run enterprise was realised. It would be called Dunbar Community Bakery, and has attracted 300 community members who raised almost £40,000 through the sale of community shares.
It wasn’t possible to continue in the former Smith family premises and finding a suitable alternative was difficult as numerous locations fell through. Dunbar Community Bakery finally settled on a well-located high street spot in a former newsagents shop. The Co-operative Loan Fund gave the bakery a loan to help with the complete refurbishment of the space and to pay for new, professional baking equipment, including state-of-the-art ovens.
Dunbar Community Bakery will specialise in high-quality traditional bakery products with no additives, using quality, locally sourced ingredients. It will sell freshly baked breads, pastries and cakes. The staff consists of three professional bakers with 65 years of combined experience, and a front-of-house team.
Aside from providing tasty products, the bakery has a social agenda as well. It plans to provide training and employment opportunities for locals, along with developing apprenticeships and support to local schools to share baking skills. Beyond that, all profits will be reinvested back into the community.
Dunbar Community Bakery is run by a dedicated management committee of nine professionals, including local entrepreneurs and experts in finance, marketing, communications and community development.
Janet Barnes, committee-member and business development consultant and trainer said: “Many of us wanted to be involved in developing a certain bakery, not a chain, that would serve good old-fashioned bread and develop the community at the same time. Without the loan finance it wouldn’t have gone ahead, the assistance has been vital.”
Dunbar is a small, coastal town east of Edinburgh and just north of the English border. It supports a population of 12,000 and is part of the Transition Towns network, an environmental and social movement aiming to reduce carbon emissions.
Ian Taylor of The Co-operative Loan Fund said: “Dunbar Community Bakery is the story of a community that has stuck at a plan through thick and thin. I am confident the bakery will be a success, it is run by professionals, located in a good spot and will no doubt bake delicious food.”
Start up or established co-operative businesses seeking financial support can contact The
Co-operative Loan Fund on 01179 166750, or go to www.co-operativeloanfund.co.uk for more information.
For more information about Dunbar Community Bakery please visit www.dunbarcommunitybakery.org.uk