BSB conference

If you have not already done so, do not forget to book your place at the annual British Society of Baking conference, which takes place from 11-12 April. Pre-dinner drinks and dinner take place at the Village Hotel, in Ashton-under-Lyne, and the conference programme the next day at Tameside College. For details contact Sharon Byrne on sbyrne@bakels.com or call 01869 247098.

Baker closes café

Scottish bakery chain Mathiesons has closed its café in Falkirk’s Howgate Shopping Centre after 20 years of trading. It will close at the end of May, after an agreement on a new rental deal with the shopping centre’s owners could not be reached. Thirty jobs are at risk, although the company’s retail director Mark Bradford said he hoped many of them would be redeployed within the existing business. "Going forward, the company is continuing to seek alternative locations for new stores," he added.

Allergy-friendly site

Knead, a new ’allergy-friendly’ bakery, has been launched online, selling wheat-, gluten-, and cane sugar-free cakes. Founded by long-time allergy sufferer and former journalist Sim Smith, the bakery currently has six-core products available: chocolate chip cookies, ginger cookies, mini blueberry muffins, mini lemon & poppy seed muffins, carrot cake and chocolate brownies.

Green light for bakery

Planning permission has been granted for a Dunbar Community Bakery, according to the East Lothian Courier. The premises at 60 High Street, which has been empty for more than a year, will now be converted into a working bakery within the next few months. An opening date will be announced in the coming weeks.

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