Bakery marks landmark anniversary with photo selection
GLASWEGIAN bakery firm McGhee’s Bakery has marked its 90th anniversary year with the release of a collection of archive images to chart its success over the years.
Founded by Dugald McGhee in Glasgow in 1936, the bakery firm opened its doors with the ambition to feed its local community a range of fresh and affordable baked goods.
Now, 90 years on from this, the firm remains in the hands of the McGhee family that started it all in its third and fourth generation and continue to produce plenty of iconic Scots baked goods including morning rolls, tattie scones, doughnuts and empire biscuits.
Gordon McGhee, director at McGhee’s Bakery, said: “Looking back through the archive, you realise how much has changed, from the buildings and the scale of the operation to the technology we use today. What has not changed is the pride taken in doing what we do well.
“When my grandfather opened the first shop in Maryhill in 1936, he simply wanted to feed the local community. To see that grow into millions of products enjoyed across Scotland, including around 145 million empire biscuits, is something the whole family is incredibly proud of.”
The archive of images showcase how the business has expanded and evolved throughout its 90 years, from its wee shop, through wartime productions and into the modern day with purpose-built bakeries, modern distribution capacities and nationwide reach.
Across the firm’s 90 years, McGhee’s has estimated that it has produced around 145million empire biscuits, a tempting 237,837,600 pineapple tarts and a staggering 369,460,000 packets of potato scones since opening its doors.
Today, the firm continues to operate from its Port Dundas bakery to provide stores, cafés and, ultimately, homes across the length and breadth of Scotland with a range of tempting baked goods.
Aisling McGhee, commercial director at McGhee’s Bakery, said: “For our family, these photographs represent much more than business milestones. They capture the people, the early mornings and the consistency that have defined McGhee’s for 90 years.
“Empire biscuits have been part of the range since the early days and are still finished by hand today. Seeing the scale of what has been baked over generations really brings home how closely the bakery is woven into everyday Scottish life as we look ahead to the future.”
