The Bread Guy owners on a roll as they prepare to open fifth shop in Aberdeen city centre

The new shop will sell all The Bread Guy favourites including cakes, pies, breads and butteries.

By Karla Sinclair

April 20 2023, 5:00 pm

Gary McAllister, co-owner and head baker of The Bread Guy, outside the new bakery. Image: Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

Residents of Aberdeen’s West End rejoice, for thriving north-east bakery firm The Bread Guy is opening a new branch in the area next week.

The new store, located on Hazlehead Crescent, will be the fifth in the business’ portfolio and boast a team of two.

In terms of the renovation, the turnaround has been swift. The team, including The Bread Guy director Donna McAllister, received the keys to the property on Thursday March 22.

The Bread Guy of course sells a range of artisan breads, among many other items. Image: Darrell Benns/DC Thomson

The new branch is anticipated to open to the public on Monday April 24.

As for the other four other branches, they are located on Glenbervie Road, Great Northern Road and Thistle Street – all in Aberdeen – and Inverurie’s Falconer Place.

Artisan bakes that bring communities together

The 412 sq ft space is located within a neighbourhood parade of shops.

It is also a short distance from Hazlehead Primary School and Queens Road, which is the main arterial road from the city centre to Kingswells and Westhill.

When asked about the appeal of the shop, Donna said: “We knew about this site – previously BLTs – for a long time.

“It had always been a great little takeaway and cake shop so when we heard that the owner had retired and closed down, we couldn’t miss the opportunity to take the site on.

The new branch is based on Hazlehead Crescent. Image: by Scott Baxter/DC Thomson

“It will be great to bring a new lease of life back to the property.”

Donna and the team also have plans in place to partner with Hazlehead Primary School.

“We value being part of the communities surrounding our shops and with the local primary just round the corner, we are hoping to partner with them in our ‘Cupcake Campaign’,” she went on to say.

“This is a campaign we have already launched with Walker Road Primary – and will be launching with Kittybrewster Primary after the Easter holidays – where we sell cupcakes in store designed by one of the school’s P7s.

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“All profits raised from the sale of these cupcakes are donated to the school to spend on P7 activity days, creating great memories for the last year of primary.”

Scottish Baker of the Year Awards

The store will be easily recognisable, boasting The Bread Guy’s familiar branding.

Plenty of well-loved favourites will be on offer including artisan bread, sausage rolls and empire biscuits.

It is recommended that customers try the business’ toffee slice, which picked up an accolade at the Scottish Baker of the Year Awards in 2022, should it be available on visiting.

Donna said: “We hope to be a regular stop for the local community, whether its for a fine piece and coffee, a buttery (or rowie), a hot pie, sandwich or a tasty loaf.

Donna McAllister (centre) with the team of the Inverurie Bread Guy branch. Image: Wullie Marr/DC Thomson

“It’s always exciting seeing our business expanding. From starting our small wholesale bakery five years ago, we have expanded quickly and are kept very busy.

“It was always our aim to bring bakeries back to the heart of local communities and we love seeing that become a reality.

“We have a great team of staff behind us who all share our passion and values, and this shows in our products and our customer service and is the reason we have been able to expand as quickly as we have.”

The Bread Guy team are looking forward to heading back to the Scottish Baker of the Year Awards as they compete for the title of Scottish Retail Craft Baker of the Year.