Celebrating 30 Years of Island Bakery

Dawn & Joe Reade embarked on their biscuit-making journey as fresh-faced graduates from the University of Edinburgh in 1994. With an aim to sustain the family run, community orientated ethos of Joe’s hometown in colourful Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, they initially took over a shop from the retiring local butcher after baking bread for two years in Joe’s brothers’ garage, leading to the birth of the Island Bakery Delicatessen.

This brought about their realisation of the potential in the speciality foods market for enticing organic biscuits. With aspirations to make an impact beyond the shores of their island, they established Island Bakery Organics in 2001. By 2007, the high achievers’ success has led them to focus solely on biscuit production as the growth of the business meant having to make the difficult decision to sell their beloved delicatessen.  Since then, each biscuit innovation has been crafted from their sustainable premises, completed in 2012. The current production line is powered entirely with local sources of renewable energy to make sure that their products not only taste brilliant but are environmentally sustainable as well. Electricity for the building is generated by a hydroelectric turbine on the neighbouring Tobermory river, and a single wind turbine set on a hill above the bakery. Their unique ovens and heating system uses local wood chip from Mull’s abundant timber plantations. This provides a gentle heat which gives the biscuits a slow, perfect bake, making these organic treats satisfying for both the taste buds and the environment.  Island Bakery works to the highest technical standards and is accredited by SALSA, the Soil Association, and the Coeliac Society for their gluten free range.

Introducing the Island Bakery Range

Sweet Biscuits

For all those with a sweet tooth, looking for an elevenses snack or a teatime sweet treat there is nothing better than Island Bakery’s Melts range which comprises their best-selling, citrussy all-butter biscuits dipped in organic chocolates, crafted to complement each zesty flavour.  The trio of Melts offers a mouth-watering selection of Lemon, Lime and Orange, each half dipped in White, Milk and Dark chocolate respectively, making it hard to choose just one favourite. There are five other sweet biscuits in the range, made up of: Chocolate Gingers, Apple Crumbles, Oat Crumbles, Shortbread Biscuits and Blonde Chocaccinos. Sweet biscuits are available in wholesale cases containing 12 packs of 10 biscuits, as well as individual portion packs available as 2 biscuits weighing 25g.   

Gift Tins

For those special individuals who deserve their treats delivered in style with a touch of panache, Island Bakery offers beautifully designed gift tins. The Hebridean seascape tin, featuring the bakery’s highland cow, MacMoo, transports the recipient to the tranquillity of the Isle of Mull.  Each tin contains two packets of biscuits. Along with the Shortbread Biscuits and Lemon Melts, there are three other exclusive flavours available in the tins, they are: Orange Cranberry & Pecan Shortbread, Peanut Choc Chip & Toffee Shortbread, and Date & Walnut Shortbread.  

Cheese Biscuits

The Island Bakery savoury Isle of Mull Cheese Biscuits are melt in the mouth delicious rounds, ideal for pairing with drinks or a cheese board.  Staying true to locally sourced ingredients and keeping the food miles as low as possible, Island Bakery combine all butter biscuits with award-winning Isle of Mull Cheese from the family farm next door to create a savoury sensation.  The range features three trademark flavours: Traditional, Onion & Thyme or Harissa & Cumin. 

Sweet FA  Gluten Free Cookies

Named after Fiona Aitali, the Chief Biscuit Engineer at Island Bakery. Fiona, who is a Coeliac, was determined to create delicious, gluten-free cookies which pass the taste and consistency test. Together with Island Bakery, she created Sweet FA, a range of cookies which are suitable for vegans and coeliacs but can be enjoyed by everyone. Made with a unique formulation of gluten free oats and tapioca flours, Sweet FA cookies have none of the gritty residue normally associated with free from baking. The four indulgent flavours include: Cranberry & Orange, Peanut Butter, Oat & Raisin and Double Choc Chip.  The whole range is approved by both the Vegan Society and the Coeliac Society. Sweet FA biscuits are available in wholesale cases containing 12 packs of 8 biscuits, as well as 2 biscuit portion packs in cases of 24.   

Awards

Island Bakery & Sweet FA Gluten Free have received significant recognition, winning 10  Great Taste Awards, Gold Great British Food Awards, The Nation’s Favourite Organic Product and other BOOM (Best Of Organic Market) Awards, 4 Free From Food Awards as well as being consistently named as one of the Top 5 Sweet & Savoury Biscuit Brands in Fine Food Digest’s Best Brands.

Hitting the Headlines 

Island Bakery has also been hitting the headlines in a good way, reaching out to key titles and food writers offering them samples of the delicious Island Bakery range to taste and review.  There has been great coverage in Saturday Guardian, The Guardian Online, Good Housekeeping, Country Life, Delicious, Olive, Woman & Home, Best, Candis, Scottish Farmer and Speciality Food Magazine. There is more coverage due, so watch