Quirky Northern Irish baker launches first retail product
Krazibaker, Northern Ireland's quirky craft baker, has introduced
his first packaged product for retail.
The business, formed in 2013 by experienced baker Mark Douglas to
revive interest in traditional Irish griddle breads at farmers'
markets around Northern Ireland, has launched Irish shortbread in a 317g tin (RRP ?7).
The shortbread gained a UK Great Taste Award earlier in the year andis made using hand churned butter from Abernethy Butter, another UK Great Taste winner from Northern Ireland.
Douglas, who has developed a successful business baking griddle
breads at markets in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
over the past two years, sees the shortbread product as an importantdiversification for the small company. "I decided to develop the
biscuit tin in response to the demand for the shortbread following
its popularity with Great Taste judges," he says.
Based in Dromore, in rural county Down, Douglas is among a group of artisan companies behind the launch of a country market at Belfast
International Airport, the region's main airport, and believed to be the first airside market at any airport in the world.
"I saw the need for a product that travellers could take with them
on their flight," he adds. "Being able to use the Great Taste symbolin the shortbread tin is a tremendous badge of taste and quality.
I've also found response to the new product at markets across
Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland has been
tremendously encouraging."
He's also won a Great Taste award in 2014 for another traditional
Northern Irish favourite, griddle baked potato apple bread.
Krazibaker specialises in "anything that can be baked freshly on a
griddle" and includes Irish favourites such as soda farls and potatobread.
"I served my apprenticeship as a baker and subsequently sharpened myskills and knowledge working at several local home bakeries. While
Northern Ireland, unlike most of Great Britain, has managed to
preserve a heritage in home bakeries, I noticed that griddle baking at farmers' markets was declining steadily.
"The days when traditional breads like potato cakes and soda farls
were regularly baked in many homes have long gone. It's a skill thatappears to be dying, and that's sad because griddle breads are
tastier. This led me to attempt to do something to keep the
technique alive.
"What also led me to set up my own artisan business was my
experiences visiting markets around Europe on city breaks. I saw
that most sold local artisan breads brought into the markets from
bakeries elsewhere. It seemed to me that baking on site might just
appeal to shoppers now more concerned than ever about how the food
they consume is produced.
"Winning a Great Taste awards was a marvellous boost for my focus onwholesome artisan breads and biscuits."
his first packaged product for retail.
The business, formed in 2013 by experienced baker Mark Douglas to
revive interest in traditional Irish griddle breads at farmers'
markets around Northern Ireland, has launched Irish shortbread in a 317g tin (RRP ?7).
The shortbread gained a UK Great Taste Award earlier in the year andis made using hand churned butter from Abernethy Butter, another UK Great Taste winner from Northern Ireland.
Douglas, who has developed a successful business baking griddle
breads at markets in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
over the past two years, sees the shortbread product as an importantdiversification for the small company. "I decided to develop the
biscuit tin in response to the demand for the shortbread following
its popularity with Great Taste judges," he says.
Based in Dromore, in rural county Down, Douglas is among a group of artisan companies behind the launch of a country market at Belfast
International Airport, the region's main airport, and believed to be the first airside market at any airport in the world.
"I saw the need for a product that travellers could take with them
on their flight," he adds. "Being able to use the Great Taste symbolin the shortbread tin is a tremendous badge of taste and quality.
I've also found response to the new product at markets across
Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland has been
tremendously encouraging."
He's also won a Great Taste award in 2014 for another traditional
Northern Irish favourite, griddle baked potato apple bread.
Krazibaker specialises in "anything that can be baked freshly on a
griddle" and includes Irish favourites such as soda farls and potatobread.
"I served my apprenticeship as a baker and subsequently sharpened myskills and knowledge working at several local home bakeries. While
Northern Ireland, unlike most of Great Britain, has managed to
preserve a heritage in home bakeries, I noticed that griddle baking at farmers' markets was declining steadily.
"The days when traditional breads like potato cakes and soda farls
were regularly baked in many homes have long gone. It's a skill thatappears to be dying, and that's sad because griddle breads are
tastier. This led me to attempt to do something to keep the
technique alive.
"What also led me to set up my own artisan business was my
experiences visiting markets around Europe on city breaks. I saw
that most sold local artisan breads brought into the markets from
bakeries elsewhere. It seemed to me that baking on site might just
appeal to shoppers now more concerned than ever about how the food
they consume is produced.
"Winning a Great Taste awards was a marvellous boost for my focus onwholesome artisan breads and biscuits."