Reid's Bakery in Thurso set to focus on growing the wholesale side of the business
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It's the end of an era for the retail side of Reid's Bakery in Thurso, with the popular café in the town's precinct and the chip shop down by the riverside no longer being run by the family business.
Gary Reid (46) said it was time to focus on the wholesale bakery side of his business which was set up in Henderson Street in 2013. The award-winning company sells biscuits all over the world, producing over 15 million biscuits every year.
The long-established family business was started in Castletown back in April 1966 when Gary's father Donald Reid set up his own bakery, however, within a few years, due to growth of sales, larger premises were set up in Thurso.
Reid's have had a presence in Thurso for many years. They were the first to occupy their premises in the precinct and a restaurant was built in Riverside Place in 1980, which was later converted to a bakery – in 1998 the Castletown bakery was moved there.
Gary's mother Joyce, who will be 79 this year, has recently retired after 56 years serving the public. Mrs Reid worked in the business since it started back in Castletown. One of the other staff members, Maureen Webster, has also retired – she said it was her "favourite ever job".
Taking over the lease of the former café, along with the fish and chip shop will be Ian Cameron of Caithness Mobile Catering. Mr Cameron has already taken over the running of the chip shop at Riverside Place, with the café in the High Street set to reopen soon.
Gary, who runs Reids of Caithness along with his wife Tracy, explained: "I put both these premises for sale roughly four years ago. The reason behind it was that I wanted to focus on putting the energy in to the right area – I want to concentrate on growing our wholesale bakery.
"We identified during Covid a need to focus on where our strengths are. We really are pushing to grow our bakery business – we supply biscuits all over the world."
Admitting there was an "element of sadness" after running the other side of the business for so many year, he felt it was the right time to let someone take them over. The new proprietor is intending being open seven days a week serving food.
"We, as a family, are grateful to the whole community who have supported us over the years, said Gary. "We have had a very, very loyal following and we wish Ian Cameron the very, very best with both these premises. It is going to be good for Thurso."
Meanwhile Reids of Caithness was named Scottish Baker of the Year 2017. This year the business has been short-listed in the 10th Scottish Baker of the Year Awards with three of its products.
Scottish Baker members were asked to put forward 10 of their star products to be taste tested by some 55 industry experts. Nearly 500 products from 57 bakers were delivered for the judges to assess for appearance, quality and taste.
Prizes are on offer for the best scones, loaves, savoury items, morning rolls, individual cakes and biscuits as well as the latest categories, including French and Danish style pastries, and free-from bread, biscuits and cakes.
The awards will be announced at a glittering gala dinner at the Hilton in Glasgow on Saturday, May 7.
