This Is Guernsey

AN UNUSUAL bakery is celebrating its first year in business. Opened in October 2006, Nelia’s Bakery in Victoria Avenue uses only Portuguese flour and other ingredients from the country to make its bread and cakes.

Owner Nelia Lythgoe said she never expected a bakery that used just those ingredients to be so popular.

‘It’s been an amazing success. I’m very happy and we have had a party to celebrate.

‘I went to see the bank manager last week and he was just as happy.’

However, the bakery has not only gained a strong following from the local Portuguese community, according to Mrs Lythgoe.

‘It’s a 50/50 split. We know the Guernsey person likes their coffee and bacon sandwiches so we try to do what our customers want.

‘We are always getting people coming into the shop asking us if we’re the ones who do the Portuguese bread because they like it so much. And we always see those same people coming back for more.’

Before opening the bakery last year, Mrs Lythgoe ran Nelia’s Healthy Sandwiches from home, but said she couldn’t resist the opportunity to open the shop and make her own bread.

The bakery now supplies five shops and garages and a number of other businesses.

However, Mrs Lythgoe said it was very hard work.

She is up by 5am on most days to make sandwiches, while full-time baker Jose Karrondo goes in at midnight to make the bread.

The bakery has recently lost a member of staff, so it is just Mrs Lythgoe and Mr Karrondo running the shop and delivery service.

But she is eagerly looking to the future.

‘This has given me the taste to go to a bigger place. People often say they want to come in and pick up a sandwich, but can’t because of the problems parking.’

Article posted on 30th October, 2007 - 12.00am