'There can't be anyone in Duston who has not had cake': Northampton bakery thanks village for support during lockdown

Pictured outside the bakery today from left to right: Liz Dean, Steph Taylor, Abby Pamplin and Jenni Smith.

This week, the Chron launched a campaign to support the town's independent traders, businesses, pubs, clubs, entertainment venues and charities as they battle for survival following the coronavirus lockdown.

One of the independent businesses we've spoken to is Duston Village Bakery, owned by Jenni Smith who took over the business nine years ago when her former bosses retired.

She had been working in the bakery for 30 years prior to becoming the new boss and knows her bakery, and Duston, like the back of her hand.

Liz Dean pictured by Kirsty Edmonds making Rocky Roads.

Unlike some businesses, Duston Village Bakery has never shut since March 23 and her team have been working round-the-clock to keep the bakery open for essential supplies. She has even set up a pop-up shop to sell baking supplies.

Jenni quickly adapted her business to be used safely by her work force by installing extra till stations in the shop, social distance queuing outside for customers and her bakers already each had their own workbench.

"We are doing home deliveries and we have been immensely busy, which for a business in these times is amazing but it always has its challenges because you need more staff,” Jenni said.

"The amount of stock we've been making is phenomenal. I had no idea it would go to this extent - my girls have stepped up to everything they had asked of them and the customers have bought some lovely little gifts for us.

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”This week I had a bunch of flowers from someone, which makes it all worthwhile - he said ‘thank you for doing such a good job’."

Delivery drivers have been at the heart of Jenni's business over the past eight weeks - taking up to 30 vital meals, from meat pies and cream cakes, to the vulnerable and elderly who haven't been able to go to the shops.

But VE Day was the cherry on the cake as she saw her at-home delivery service distribute hundreds afternoon teas to residents in the village to enjoy while taking part in the 75th year of celebrations at home.

"We must have sold over 300 of those for VE Day. It was so special to me because my mum was a VE Day baby,” she added.

The bakery has been using it's cafe as a pop-up shop for keen bakers to buy flour.

“The village has really been getting behind us and even the home delivery people I didn't know before but now they are like my best friends, they are so lovely.

"Once this is over and we are able to I'm going to do something for them, they turn up and off they go to do the deliveries for the vulnerable - it wouldn't be possible without them.

"There can't be anyone who hasn't had a cake, a pastie or a pie in Duston."

Duston Village Bakery is open for six days a week, from Monday to Saturday and will shut for Bank Holiday Monday... to give Jenni a well-earned break.