Teen apprentice Steven rolls up his sleeves
Family-run Kenmore Bakery are playing the generation game.
Their new apprentice has just started and he is 16-year-old son-of-thebusiness, Steven Mitchell.
With the support of Scottish Bakers, Steven began working full-time last Monday, getting certified training in the kitchen he’s already very familiar with.
It will lead to a qualification that hopefully will ensure his rolls and loaves are the best for miles around.
Steven left school at Breadalbane Academy in the summer and has “since forever” been part of the family production team which consists of mum Sheila, dad Keith and older sister Jacqueline.
The company, based at Acharn on
Loch Tay, last year celebrated 25 years in yeast and flour with a big tea party at the house for around 200 local guests.
But this year due to COVID-19, their 26th anniversary in May was a very different affair, with just family marking the day as they continued their early kitchen shift.
Kenmore Bakery’s founder Sheila explained that in every way, 2020 has been a year of change and adaptation for everyone. She said: “With hotels, restaurants and cafes closing in March, we had lost most of the usual business.
“But there was a big role for us when lockdown happened. We started the delivery service as we saw a need in the local area due to lockdown and knowing people were struggling to get bread, rolls and general grocery goods.
“We had to start adding more than just bread, butteries, cakes and biscuits. We stocked meat from the butcher in Crieff, fresh fruit and vegetables. We took milk from the Courtyard shop in Kenmore and even delivered toilet rolls.
“They were very busy months. We did van deliveries every Tuesday and Friday at the height of the disruption but as it got quieter, it has now been changed to one route and only on Friday.”
As well as Steven embarking on a modern apprenticeship, there have been other developments.
Last week the 2020 Great Taste Awards were announced and the Highland Perthshire bakery earned three of the coveted awards. They were awarded a one star award for their Kenmore shortbread, one star for The Miller’s Crunch biscuits plus a two star award for their stem ginger tablet.