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Debra RiddellJill Sales
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Community-supported baking follows the model of community-supported agriculture; people make a commitment to buy the products and, more importantly, have a genuine interest in the story behind it. They care about how the bread tastes and how much it costs. They also want to know exactly what is in it, whether it is good for them, who grows the grain it is made from, and where. They want to know who the bakers are and why they use the methods and ingredients they do. Many also want to get involved in other ways, including using some of their money to make the community-supported bakery work.
This is an invitation to invest in the Breadshare Bakery, a business that is bringing real, artisan bread, made with time and skill, to people in the Borders.
Investors receive a 7.5% p.a. return on their Loaf Loan in the form of bread vouchers. Most vouchers will be exchanged for bread right at the bakery door, making a real connection between Breadshare and its supporters. For those who cannot come to the bakery, products can be collected at local markets, community drop-off points, from bread baskets and, in time, by mail order.
Everyone who invests in Breadshare is invited to apply for membership of the Community Interest Company. (Membership is subject to approval by the Board of Directors.)
The minimum investment in a Loaf Loan is just £50.
The minimum investment period for all loaf loans is three years.
Download the Loaf Loan Agreement (PDF 97KB)
for further information, e-mail Jill Sales
or write to Jill Sales, at the Breadshare address at the bottom of the page.
Breadshare has set up a viable bakery business with less than £40,000 of initial expenditure. However, we always need additional equipment to continue our production of distinctive local products and develop our broader social purposes. Those include putting real bread at the heart of our community and helping to build a healthier, fairer and more enduring food system. There are many things we will use the dough for. Over the past year we have purchased:
We are currently looking for funds to purchase a pastry sheeter which will help us produce oatcakes, which are one of our new product lines.
Our sundry equipment purchases have been assisted through a Small Business Grant from the Scottish Borders Council. This grant has enabled us to claim 50% back on all equipment purchases up to £3,750.