This is the story of Dunbar Community Bakery; one of the first community businesses to be established by residents via a community share offer.
Situated on the East Lothian coast, Dunbar Community Bakery is a thriving community owned business with over 1,000 shareholders and a population of around 10,000 to serve. Originally the site of a newsagent, the bakery was set up by locals with support from Sustaining Dunbar. The group raised £40,000 through an initial share offer, and once a lease agreement was signed in 2010, the capital was used to renovate the building. By October 2011, the bakery opened its doors with a focus on traditional and artisan breads, patisserie, and savouries.
In its first year, turnover reached £50,000. Fourteen years later, that figure has risen to more than £350,000. Another thing to rise – aside from the bread dough – was the number of shareholders. The initial core of 300 investors has more than tripled, with over 1,000 individuals now holding shares in this much loved community venture.
In 2013, the bakery began running bread and patisserie courses to help create the next generation of bakers, some of whom have gone on to work there. It supports the local community in other ways too: a partnership with Dunbar Parish Council ensures unsold produce goes to projects helping those in need, and the bakery regularly donates to local food banks.
Employment opportunities have grown alongside the business. Today, the team includes twelve staff members in a mix of full and part time roles. By working with local suppliers wherever possible – sourcing flour locally and meat from a butcher in nearby East Linton – the bakery boosts the local economy and strengthens community ties.
Dunbar’s community spirit is visible beyond the bakery’s doors. Just a short walk down the High Street sits the community owned Crunchy Carrot greengrocer. Founded on similar principles, the two businesses collaborate closely and are both strongly supported by locals, reflecting the collective effort that defines the town.
Recognition has come nationally too. The bakery has won several awards, including UK Cake of the Year and honours at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards. These followed its 2018 success in winning the Horace Plunkett “Better Business Award,” where judges praised its resilience after early financial challenges and its strong volunteer management committee. That resilience was tested again during COVID, but the bakery adapted and emerged stronger.
Today, Dunbar Community Bakery continues to rise; proving that community ownership can deliver more than delicious bread. It creates jobs, supports local suppliers, reduces isolation, and inspires pride. For Dunbar, the bakery is not just about loaves and cakes; it is about improving lives, connections, and a community that knows how to rise to the occasion.
Watch
Find out how Dunbar Bakery are supporting the local community in this informative case-study film highlighting their social impact:
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