Sourdough specialist Lovingly Artisan has unveiled a bread van with a difference as its latest offering to customers across the North West.
The Cumbria-based business, which was voted Britain’s best bakery at The Artisan Collective’s inaugural event earlier this year, said it was looking to reintroduce something that was once commonplace and an essential part of daily life across the UK.
Dubbed the ‘Bread Truck’, Lovingly Artisan’s new mobile sales vehicle is set to bring its sourdough range to local communities out of reach of its sites in Altrincham, Manchester, and Kendal. Additionally, the truck will be popping up at all manner of regional events including country shows, farmers markets and foodie events.
Products include the Dark Chocolate Malt with Orange Sourdough, which was highly commended by judges in the sourdough category at the 2023 Britain’s Best Loaf competition.
The vehicle has been kitted out to accompany bread purchases with freshly brewed, barista-style coffee, and will also sell a range of artisan-made produce and kitchenalia.
Aidan Monks, who founded the bakery with his wife Catherine Connor, held fond memories of riding a bread van with his baker grandad to deliver freshly baked products across the Lake District.
“The bread van was something that was an integral part of how we used to shop,” noted Connor. “It would plot up in a regular location, you’d buy your freshly baked bread and perhaps a few other staples you might need such as butter or milk, and after it’s allotted time it would be on its way until next the next week.
“Bread vans up and down the country provided a regular service that whole communities could rely on, but not only that they were a great way for people to get to know each other,” she added.
Inspired by her husband’s tales, Connor sketched out some ideas to “recapture a little of that way of doing things”. She brought her designs to Eclectic Creative in nearby Staveley, who were able to bring the initial concept to life. With a full design brief in place, the couple secured a vehicle and had it fitted out by Wilkinson Mobile Catering Systems in Darwin, Lancashire. Bespoke interior fittings were created by Lake District artisan blacksmith Shaun Bainbridge.
Lovingly Artisan’s Bread Truck made its successful debut at a recent Kendal Farmer’s Market, with the company now busy planning regular locations and a calendar of events such as the Westmorland County Show in September.
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