Interview: Stephens the Bakers
Stephens the Bakers dates back to 1873 where they started as a family baking business: and it’s now 2015 and they are still very much a family operation, offering many different services within the bakery umbrella.
Their products are handmade daily by some of the most skilled craftsmen in the Scottish baking industry, and they now have 14 modern retail outlets and 6 snack delivery vans. Although they are based in Fife, they offer office catering from Stirling to Edinburgh and beyond..
Being one of the key players in the Scottish baking industry, I caught up with André Sarafilovic, Managing Director of Stephens, to find out more.
Within the Scottish food and drink industry, there are certain sectors that stand out more than others. André told me that baking is the biggest single food sector of Scotland’s food and drink, when you exclude the Whisky Industry of course. So to Stephens, it is incredibly important to keep the quality of their produce extremely high in order to stay regarded as one of the industry leaders in terms of quality and innovation.
Although the business has many sweet and savoury products, there is one product that jumps into your mind when you think of Stephens: The Famous Steak Bridie.
The steak bridie was voted the best savoury product in Scotland in 2012, and it is actually André’s own personal favourite product!
As well as being the country’s favourite pastry, it is Stephen’s range of pies that have made the connection between them and Dunfermline Athletic Football Club to strong. They have provided the half-time grub to the Pars for many years, and continue to do so. André said:
We have supported the club through thick and thin, and are pleased to be associated with the club and the local community. The rent goes back into the club and is a valuable source of income to the club.
And it’s this personal connection that Stephens makes with the public and local businesses that creates their stronghold of fans.
However, André assures me that although it is the one product that most people associate with Stephens, he believes it is ‘our entire range and quality service that makes us popular'. In 2013 they were voted the best morning roll in Scotland, as they still make them the traditional way.
When talking about competition in the Fife region, such as Stuarts in Leven, and The Carlton in Kirkcaldy, André remains completely relaxed and says ‘we are customer focused and provide the best possible quality at affordable prices, so the customers decide who they shop with’. It is clear that Stephens pride themselves on the quality of their products, and that is why they have been such successful as bakers.
And this high quality comes from how they treat their staff, and how much they enjoy their work on a daily basis. André says that their company is full of ‘skilled staff, who take great pride in making and selling our products every day’.
Stephens the Bakers achieved their best award so far in 2013, when they received the Scottish Baker of the Year award.
It is clear that André is set to keep the business up to the bar they have set for themselves, so this is probably only the first of many Baker of the Year awards to come.
For more information what services they offer and where to find your local branch, feel free to check out their website.
2013: Scottish Baker of the Year
2013: Voted best Morning Roll in Scotland
2013: Well Fired Morning Roll, voted 2nd best Morning Roll in Scotland, second only to our Morning Roll
2012: Voted best Morning Roll in Scotland
2012: Steak Bridie voted the best savoury product in Scotland
2012: Scottish Baker of the Year Runner up
2010: Baking Industry Awards Runner up Baker of the Year
2009: The Scottish Grocer Awards Winner of Working in Partnership
2004: Baking Industry Awards Winner of Centenary Baker
2003: Baking Industry Awards Winner of Business Innovation