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Member News
THE SCOTTISH BAKER MEMBER NEWS
MURRAYS BAKERS WARMLY WELCOMED BACK, SELLING 2000 PIES ON DAY ONE OF RE-STARTING RETAIL OPERATIONS!
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As lockdown measures were eased Scottish Bakers member Murrays Bakers re-started retail operations with a warm welcome on Perth’s high street.
Business owner Linda Hill said, “On the day we opened, there were 10 people queuing outside in anticipation and this continued until 2.15pm when we briefly ran out of pies! We sold over 2000 pies that day – it really could not have been better. “On day two I posted on social media that we were starting afternoon teas and it went crazy. The phone rang off the hook and there were over 100 messages on Facebook messenger. It took me all day and well into the evening to get through them all. There was a massive demand. “The Friday and Saturday saw a queue down the street for about 40 metres continuously. We were overwhelmed with the response to us reopening and I felt so emotional with how much we were welcomed back. People were very good at sticking to the two in and two out and the queue was pretty well behaved. Our opening really could not have gone better. It turned out I had not brought enough staff back off furlough, so we brought another bakery worker in on the Friday and two shop staff as well. After releasing the afternoon teas I even had to phone my daughter to plead with her to come in and help as it was bedlam! “The bakers were run off their feet and my husband was doing 12 hour shifts. Definitely a family affair. The first day back I was going from serving, filling the counter, and taking telephone orders to being in the bakery lidding pies, packing up and carrying products to the shop. It has been a long time since I have had to work so hard for so long but I was running on adrenaline, it felt so good. I was just so happy to be open again and people said it felt like there was some sort of normality now Murrays had reopened. “Most customers are happy to pay by card but we are still taking cash if necessary and then using hand sanitiser in between customers if cash is used. We found that masks, visors and a hat is hard to do so its masks and hats on and it certainly gets warm behind the masks. I bought washable ones to use but we also have disposable as well so the staff can choose.
Customers queue as Murrays Bakers reopens
Linda Hill Murrays Bakers
“It’s amazing how quickly people have adapted to queuing outside and only one from a family inside for the order. People are more prepared now to wait in a queue, it’s become the norm. We are getting ourselves into a good routine now in the bakery and shop. “I am so grateful that my customers have come out in their droves for our products and have missed our famous pies! We will continue to market the afternoon teas as long as needed and anything else we need to do to keep our business busy and our staff in employment. I am exhausted but happy!”
THE SCOTTISH BAKER MEMBER NEWS
PARS FOODS BRAND PIE SPORTS IS NOW SERVING MATCHDAY PIES - AT HOME
Scottish Bakers member Pars Foods has found an innovative way of fulfilling footie fans ‘fantasies’ with a half time pie at home.
By setting up Pie Sports, now supporters craving their traditional half-time treats can still indulge despite the lockdown. With fans unable to attend SPFL grounds during the pandemic, the firm has been bombarded with orders. Hungry punters are sent boxes of Scotch, steak and macaroni pies to tuck into while they watch the action on Sky Sports — all washed down with Bovril. Pars Foods in Glasgow has been stunned by demand so far. Managing director Brian Sarafilovic, said they spotted a pie-shaped gap in the market when fans were locked out of games by COVID-19 safety rules. He said: “We’re really pleased with how it’s gone so far.
FOOTBALL STADIUM RENAMED IN HONOUR OF BAKER HAMISH ALLAN
Rutherglen Glencairn F.C. has renamed its stadium in honour of their lifelong supporter and former committee member Hamish Allan, who passed away last year aged 89. Hamish was also a great supporter of the work of Scottish Bakers.
The club’s home ground will now be known as the Hamish B. Allan Stadium and new signage will be installed for the new season which starts in October. Hamish was treasurer of the old Glencairn Social Club and, at the time of taking on the role, the club was unfortunately in debt, however Hamish turned things around and a year later it was in profit. Hamish’s affinity with his local club was such that, just before he passed away in hospital, the club ensured he got his hands on the West Region Championship trophy when they won the title in the 2018/19 season. “We manufacture the majority of pies for Scottish football clubs and with games behind closed doors we were left with quite a dilemma with lack of sales and trying to protect jobs. “We came up with this as a solution. Fans have got the football on TV so we thought maybe the only thing missing is their atmosphere and pie and Bovril.
THE GREAT SCOTTISH BAKERS FAMILY
Scottish Bakers is one family and during the past few months we have all come together to keep on baking and supporting our communities with fresh produce day in and day out.
Recently via social media we wanted to celebrate our great Scottish Bakers family and asked our members and followers to post a picture and tag us or send us the picture to share on our social media pages. We received some great pictures which we have loved sharing but we are still looking for more! Please do share your pictures with us via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. It might just be you, your team, your customers, your kids or anyone else who forms part of your bakery family and tell us who they are and why they are important in your world. We can’t wait to hear from you!
“The level of interest has surprised us. It’s been very busy.” The first orders — packaged in Sky Sports-style branding — were taken before the Scottish Premiership kick-off. Drivers delivered to dozens of homes across Glasgow, Motherwell, Paisley and surrounding areas.
