Statement by the Management Committee of Dunbar Community Bakery
The Bakery in Dunbar has made a strong start to trading during its first four months of business. Weekly sales figures have been close to those targeted in the business plan. Our finances remain sound.
The community-owned business has also attracted strong public support. Since The Bakery opened on Dunbar High Street on October 6th 2011 we have signed up 150 new shareholders.
Dunbar Community Bakery now has more than 450 shareholders, most of whom are also regular customers. All are entitled to a 10% discount on goods purchased.
The Management Committee would like to pay tribute to all the hard-working staff of The Bakery who have made this business such an immediate success.
We are delighted to be fulfilling our social mandate of providing new jobs in the community.
The Bakery currently employs six people full-time, five of whom were previously unemployed. We also have six part-time staff. We hope to offer our first apprenticeships later this year.
Dunbar Community Bakery is proud to have enriched the retail offering on the High Street. We have created an attractive new shop selling high quality bread, savouries and cakes made freshly on the premises. We are helping to attract more customers to all retail outlets in this living heart of the community.
Like many new businesses, we have found it necessary to make some early adjustments in our products and pricing. There have also been a couple of changes in the team line-up.
These course corrections will help to ensure realism in our pricing, rigour in our financial management and consistency of quality in our product range.
They will enable us to meet market demand, promote healthy eating and remain financially sustainable.
The Bakery is currently being managed on a provisional basis by Janet Barnes, a member of the Management Committee. She is implementing a series of necessary adjustments. We shall conduct an open recruitment exercise for a permanent business manager in the near future.
The Management Committee
20th February 2012
