Bake Off’s Flora finally realises business dream

BAKERY: TV runner-up transforms old building in village and sells out in hours

Great British Bake Off star Flora Shedden has opened her Dunkeld bakery, more than six months after unveiling her plans.

The 21-year-old transformed a neglected building in the village’s Atholl Street in to her artisan business, which she named Aran, after the Gaelic word for bread.

Flora had hoped to open her business over the summer, but work on the 200-year-old building exposed years of neglect.

To meet the unexpected cost of the repairs, Flora launched a crowdfunding campaign, with extra cash going toward a charitable arm providing baking lessons for schools and the elderly.

Flora revealed on social media that on opening day she had sold out of her wares in just four hours.

Taking to photo-sharing site Instagram, she posted an image of two wooden stools in front of a steamed up window and wrote: “WE ARE OPEN! First day and we sold oot in four hours! Thanks to the dream team for an unbelievable effort. Round two tomorrow!”

Fans of Flora congratulated her on her success. User almond_star wrote: “Absolutely wonderful! Congratulations!

“Can’t wait to make my way through your entire list of cakes #bucketlist #lifegoals”.

User elaamleung added: “Congratulations! Been following bakery progress :) On my way from Edinburgh with hubby n dog! Nice end to our Hermitage trail xx.”

Flora was a runner-up in the hit BBC TV show in 2015.

Memorable moments included her commenting that she had forgotten to turn on her electric oven as her parent’s kitchen is furnished with an Aga.

The throwaway line led to an explosion of cruel comments online, leading Flora to reveal that the range had been salvaged from a house fire.

The then-19-year-old also faced accusations of being too “professional” as she writes her own baking blog.

Since featuring on the show, Flora has published her first book, Gatherings.

She put her St Andrews University studies on hold to concentrate on writing the book, which was released in hardback in January.

kmcintosh@thecourier.co.uk

Pictures: Mhairi Edwards/kris Miller From top: Flora Shedden in her new Aran bakery in Dunkeld; the outside of the building earlier this year; and showing off some of her produce outside the shop.