gilda Bakery – bread with a golden lining

Gilda Bakery has been running since 2022 and has already developed a large and loyal following.  Jon Warren started to make sourdough whilst living in Spain as a hobby.  Moving back to the UK at the end of 2020, he had continued his baking and was becoming in demand.  He developed into making for friends and family and once Covid had passed, he realised he could make a business from what he was doing.  Gathering some extra bakers, front of house staff and a location to cook and sell from, he started up Gilda.  Folkelife went along to their current headquarters to find out more about the bread.

“I was at a place where I needed to make something, be creative with my hands.  Sourdough was the thing and I really enjoyed making it.  It started off in my mother’s kitchen as I’d moved back from living in Spain.  Then when friends began to say that if I were to sell this they would buy, I thought maybe I could make a living from this.  It’s been important to not grow too quickly, because I would deliver the bread I had made and knew all my customers.  That was important. And I would only be happy if the product was the best it could be, I’m not compromising on quality at any stage.  Now we’re at a point where there are 6 bakers and the Front Of House staff and delivery drivers.  We might be out-growing the space we’re in.” 

sausage rolls

“The list of produce has grown too.  We’re not just providing bread.  Our most popular item is the cinnamon breakfast bun.  And you do have to be quick to get a sausage roll too. We do cruffins, almond croissants and cheese straws as well as flavoured breads and the original sourdough.  We make in small batches, which means we can be consistent with our products and serve the best we can make.  Our outlet at Folkestone Harbour Marketplace has been a great success.  Molly, one of our staff is local to Folkestone so she’s been a huge part in making this work too. 

“As well as being in Folkestone, we’re based in Canterbury and deliver in the surrounding area as far as Ashford.  We’re situated just near The Pig in Bridge and they have our bread as well as other restaurants and businesses around.   We have around 35 wholesale customers and then the retail end here at Bishopsbourne.  We do Saturday markets in Faversham and Sandwich, and then a Sunday market in Cliftonville.  Then the Folkestone opportunity came up.”

more permanent space

“We’d tried the Festive Marketplace in Christmas 2023 as part of the Produce in Kent hut.  Then again in the summer we had a pop-up with them and it worked really well.  People were coming back asking for us to be here for longer.  It makes sense to have a hut that we can set up once and stay for the whole six weeks.  We’ve also been very well received.  There are a lot of returning customers, so we’re reaching a new audience. 

“As well as our bread, sausage rolls and cinnamon buns, there are other things on offer.  We’ve created a hazelnut and chocolate cruffin, and a gingerbread one with a little gingerbread Christmas Tree on top.  You can order baked goods for Christmas too with our salted caramel yule log, and we have Christmas cakes and Christmas puddings too. We’re doing a poached pear and frangipani tart which you can order via our website and then collect in time for Christmas.”

growing the business

“We made the limited company in March 2022, so really the main growth has been in the last 2 and a half years.  I think, as well as having a good product, people are interested in eating more healthy options.  We use few ingredients, but good ingredients.  Our recipes are simple, and that’s what people really like.  In 2024, we won a Taste of Kent award for our savoury bun.  It was a Malaysian Vegetable Curry Bun.  It would be great to win more awards for the food we make as we are passionate about what we do.  Come along and find out.”