Bad Girl Bakery supplies fresh, handmade, short shelf life, high quality cake for wholesale and retail.
The firm started as a sole-trading home-based cake business five years ago with support from The Highland Council’s Loan Fund. In 2017, after being awarded a contract to supply the Caledonian Sleeper, it moved to new premises and opened a café and bakery with further support.
Two months later after winning a contract to supply National Trust for Scotland and the introduction of a new mobile service the company expanded, with further support from the Council, into a vacant shop unit next door.
In recent times BGB was running close to capacity and discussed options with the Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). This secured an £11,000 investment from HIE and further support from the loan fund towards the cost of further expansion. This funding has helped fit out additional premises, nearby in the Muir of Ord Industrial Estate, with new upgraded equipment.
The expansion project is expected to create up to five new jobs at the firm over the next two years and increase the company’s annual turnover to more than £1m.
Bad Girl Bakery is run by directors, Douglas Hardie and Jeni Iannetta. Douglas said:
“We’re delighted to have expanded our wholesale operation. Without funding from HIE and Highland Council we would not have been able to meet the increased demand for our products. The new wholesale bakery has allowed us to increase output, efficiency and develop our product range.”
Phil King, business growth account manager with HIE, said:
“Bad Girl Bakery is part of the Highland and Islands important food and drink sector. The firm has shown steady growth since starting five years ago and has clear potential for further expansion, providing valuable employment and contributing to the local economy.
“We are very pleased to be able to support this project and look forward to continuing to work with the company on its growth plans.”
Councillor Helen Carmichael, Chair of the Council loan fund and Provost of Inverness added:
“It is positive to see the growth of BGB from first contact with the Council and the resultant funding partnership with HIE successfully facilitating further expansion. Highland Council look forward to continuing to support BGB achieve its growth plans over the coming years.”
An international collaboration project to develop plastic-free food packaging material from food waste, initially langoustine shells, has been awarded £268,284.
A fun packed day of activities is planned at Cairngorm Mountain this Saturday (7 December 2019) to mark the official launch of the snow sports season.
Snow making, road clearing and other diesel-fuelled machinery at Cairngorm Mountain is set to be powered by biofuel in the new year.
Businesses interested in exporting to Scotland’s top international trading partner, the United States, can attend a free event in Inverness on Wednesday 20 November.
R&B Distillers, owners of the Isle of Raasay Distillery, has secured up to £200,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Plans by an adventure tourism company in Argyll to create more choice for visitors and extend to year-round operations, have secured a £70,000 contribution from HIE.
A family run business on the isle of Bute is embarking on a £330,000 expansion project that will double its workforce and boost turnover.
Taster sessions take place on 2 and 30 November
Fourteen delegates from organisations across Europe that are tackling socio-economic challenges will visit the Highlands this week.
Businesses in the Highlands and Islands looking to develop their use of digital technology and innovation are set to benefit from a new £465,000 support programme.
An ambitious new programme of activities is being developed for the food and drink industry to raise awareness of innovation and opportunities presented by new technologies.
