À propos du projet
Hi, I’m Andy Strang and I’m the founder of Bread by Bike, a sourdough bakery in North London.
Over the past week, Bread By Bike has received an overwhelming amount of support. We met our target in five days, were featured in the local news and even chosen as one of Kickstarter's Projects We Love. The best news of all is - we're going to be an independent bakery!
I'm still reeling from it all - it's beyond anything I ever expected. I'm so grateful to everyone who has donated. Thank you so much!
The past few days got me thinking what else I can do to get set up. One thing I've been asked about so much is door-to-door deliveries. If we could raise funds for a delivery bike, when the doors open I could begin deliveries right away! We'd need to set our goal higher - to £12,500 in total.
If you'd like to help me stretch even further - by supporting or just by spreading the word in person or online - I would be so grateful!
It all started when...
I decided to set up my own bakery when it dawned on me that the bread being eaten in this country is embarrassingly bad. It’s tasteless, it’s riddled with chemical additives, it’s a nutritional black hole, and it’s almost indigestible.
This realisation got me wondering what I could actually do to change things. After much research I found that the best way to make bread is also the simplest: all you have to do is to take the best quality organic flour, mix it with water, then introduce the wild yeasts and bacteria of a sourdough starter.
Given enough time, these little guys transform the dough, filling it with air, improving its digestibility and giving it the most wonderful flavour.
So that's exactly what I decided to do.
The story of Bread By Bike really starts in my home kitchen, with me attempting to bake the perfect loaf of sourdough as a distraction from writing my PhD thesis.
I’d pop out on my bike to deliver them to friends, and before long, friends of friends. Demand quickly became too big for my kitchen, so I rented a part of the kitchen in Blighty Coffee, in Finsbury Park.
Over the last 16 months, the little microbakery at Blighty built up an incredible following of local bread lovers, even winning a couple of World Bread Awards along the way.
Why does Bread By Bike need support?
The growth of the business means it's time to take the next step: to move into my own premises and transition from microbakery to actual bakery.
I've been lucky enough to find a great spot already, which is on Brecknock Road, near Kentish Town, but we're going to need everybody's help to make that change actually work.
Setting up a bakery in London is not cheap (massive understatement): on top of the cost for the space, there's an unending list of kit, topped by the electric deck oven and spiral dough mixer - the two priciest bits, and two of the most crucial.
By supporting Bread By Bike across this transition, you will not only be helping to procure this kit and secure its new home, but you'll be part of the passionate team behind its existence too.
What you'll be getting in return...
I've packed as much into each of my donation 'rewards' as I can. These include brunch at the bakery, an introduction to sourdough workshop, and even long-term bread subscriptions.
For the super generous I've also set up premium donations, which I'm calling Bread Bonds. These mean you'll receive a practically unlimited supply of my bread, with some extra treats on top - in addition to the huge gratitude I'll be sending your way. (You'll be able to collect these from the new bakery or from The Blackstock Kitchen (136 Blackstock Road))
All the donation money will be put into the equipment for the bakery and getting it set up.
I've been shown so much love by the community around Bread By Bike and I'm absolutely thrilled to have an opportunity to give back.
Spread the word online
The more people we can get behind this the more chance we'll reach our target, so please help spread the word by sharing on social media.
https://www.facebook.com/breadbybike/
https://twitter.com/BreadByBike
Risques et défis
Starting again
It's always a challenge to start something new, but with the support of the strong community that has gathered around Bread By Bike, I truly believe we can make it work.
Getting your rewards
Some days, bread flies off the shelves at an unbelievable pace. So if you have a bread bond or loaf to pick up from the store, there is a small chance we might have sold out when you come to collect. Just let me know in advance if you can.
Location
I'll need to work hard to spread the word about Bread By Bike in the new area. If you know anyone living around Kentish Town, support by word of mouth and social media would be hugely appreciated!
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