Bakery director in tribute to grandad

A fifth-generation director of Fife and Tayside bakery Fisher & Donaldson has paid tribute to his grandfather as the business has adapted to the challenges of the coronavirus lockdown.

Ben Milne said the temporary closure of their seven shops and cafés in late March had resulted in the setting up of a modern online service and the resumption of home deliveries not seen since the days when his grandfather was a teenager riding round Cupar on his messenger bike.

Ben, a fifth-generation Fisher & Donaldson baker, said it had been “incredibly difficult” to make the decision to close the shops in March.

However, it had been gratifying that the family business has taken more than 7,000 orders and delivered more than 10,000 fudge doughnuts in the Fife and Tayside area since setting up the delivery service.

“It was incredibly difficult for us to make the decision to close our shops back in March, and business has been very different since then,” said Ben.

“But we knew we could adapt and provide for our customers.

“This meant setting up a brandnew online shop in a matter of days, and taking the plunge to offer a home delivery service – something we haven’t done since my grandad was a teenager riding around Cupar on his messenger bike.

“Times have certainly changed since then, and our customers can now place orders on our online shop, before noon for next-day delivery.

“The orders aren’t going out on a bike anymore, but our team of drivers offer a friendly face to our customers in lockdown, many of whom won’t see anyone else that day.

“It has been heart-warming to see the wonderfully colourful windows on our rounds, and wave and smile to customers from afar. It cheers us up as much as it seems to our customers.”

Ben Milne with his grandfather’s delivery bike outside the bakery in Cupar.