Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Mad batters are the new cake bosses
Locals get taste of the exotic at bakery
Coatbridge bakers Graeme Neil and David Frame are tasting success after bringing a taste of America to the town.
The couple fulfilled their dream of opening their own bakery and coffee shop with the launch of Mad Batter Bakery at Coatbank Street late last year.
Already, they have won a contract to supply treats including Key lime pie, Mississippi mud pie and Reece’s Pieces cheesecake to a restaurant, and have taken on two members of staff.
They were supported in opening the 1000 square-foot bakery and shop, which can seat 26 customers, with advice from Business Gateway Lanarkshire and a grant from North Lanarkshire Council.
Graeme, a former hotel department manager, said: “We’d been thinking about opening our own place for a while and decided to specialise in American products as no one else produces them locally.
“We also love American food having visited the country countless times, including nine trips to Las Vegas!”
David began “pretend baking” with his uncle, a bakery manager, as a toddler.
He would also whip up a range of cakes and treats as a teenager and went on to work in a supermarket bakery for 22 years.
He put himself through college, gaining HNDs in both patisserie and confectionery, and left the supermarket only to launch his own venture, where the staff members include Shannon Smillie, a former confectioner at Glasgow’s Willow tea rooms.
David added: “I love combining different flavours and working with Shannon has helped us produce some amazing and unusual cakes and treats already.
“They include cheddar jalapeño scones, and chocolate peppermint candy cane cheesecake that went down a storm over the festive season.
“For me, coming up with new recipes and ways of presenting cakes is a more creative outlet than baking, although Paul Hollywood might not agree!”
David and Graeme spent three years searching for the perfect premises and, having made their dream a reality, they now hope to expand even further.
They have ploughed more than £40,000 into the venture, including £12,000 from the council’s business growth fund. Graeme said: “Once we found our unit we totally transformed it, lowering the ceiling and installing all the equipment.
“Elaine Kerr, our Business Gateway adviser, helped us successfully apply for funding that part-paid for the work.
“I’d initially gone there as I’ve a lot of customer service experience but none in actually running a business. I went on a lot of Business Gateway’s free start-up workshops and our adviser connected us to Routes to Work for our staff.
“Without Elaine’s support we wouldn’t have been as prepared as we were when we first opened – she gave us confidence, pushed us when we needed it, and is always at the other end of the phone if we have any questions.” Business adviser Elaine added: “By working with us they’ve increased their knowledge and business skills, accessed funding they never knew existed and launched a business that has already created jobs.
“Graeme and David’s ultimate aim is to become a premium dessert supplier to a range of local eateries and to open a chain of Mad Batter Bakeries across Lanarkshire.”
Mad Batter Bakery can be found on Facebook. For more information on the support available to entrepreneurs from Business Gateway Lanarkshire, visit www. bgateway.com/lanarkshire or call 01236 884825.