Yahoo News Glasgow artisan bakery loved by Noel Gallagher and the Foo Fighters celebrates 40th birthday
A Glasgow-based artisan bakery loved by stars like Noel Gallagher and the Foo Fighters is celebrating its 40th birthday.
Bavarian Bakehouse, which was founded in 1984 and has a focus on traditional baking methods, is now looking to expand to futureproof the business and meet “incredible demand”.
Since then, the bakery has become a go-to for supplying high-profile events, including the Commonwealth Games, The Open Golf at Royal Troon, and the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards at Kelvingrove Art Gallery, where Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher said Bavarian’s sourdough rolls were the best he’d ever tasted.
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Purchased by former accountant Kathleen McShane 14 years ago from German Master Baker and merchant seaman, Karl Wichman, the firm moved from its original site in Kirkintilloch to a new facility in Cumbernauld.
In the years since, it was named Wholesale Baker of the Year and has outgrown its current site as it’s transformed into a multi-million turnover business with a team of 30 skilled staff.
Their products – including sourdough, pretzels, cakes, pastries, and traybakes – are enjoyed every day by Glaswegians at local favourites including Roots and Fruits, Stalks and Stems, Sloans, and Porter and Rye.
Managing director Kathleen McShane said: “It’s been incredible to watch how the bakery has grown from humble beginnings to supplying some of Glasgow’s most renowned venues.
“We’ve stayed true to the original principles of using traditional, handcrafted techniques, and that’s resonated with our clients.
“The reason we’re still around is because we’ve never stopped evolving. There’s a growing appetite for food made properly, and I think people are becoming wise to how bad supermarket bread really is for you. We need more space so we can continue to give the same care and attention we’ve always given to our products as demand grows.”
Each week, more than 35,000 items are produced by hand and made from scratch using time-honoured recipes and methods, and even a sourdough starter as old as the bakery itself.
Discussing the bakery's famous fans, Kathleen revealed that Oasis front man Noel loved their rolls when he tried them at the 2014 MTV Europe Music Awards at Kelvingrove Art Gallery added: “During the dinner, Noel kept asking for more of our soup rolls. Given they’re sourdough, they are markedly different from the rolls you typically get at these events.
“He said they were the best he had ever tasted, and the chefs even gave him some to take home with him in a doggy bag.”
The bakery also supplied the Foo Fighters during their recent performance at Hampden Park. Previous clients have included Manchester City FC, the England Men's National Team, and Norwich City FC.
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