Ingredients including skill, dedication, great customer service plus a pinch of support and advice from North Tyneside Council’s business support services have helped the rise of a new bakery business.
Originally formed from home in lockdown, Eli’s Bakery has whisked up so much new business that they have moved into new premises with demand for their Portuguese speciality bread and pastries constantly exceeding supply.
In December 2018, Sylvester Spinelli and his partner Ana Ribeiro baked their first bread based on the delicious homemade loaves they enjoyed as children. Just over a year ago, their first child Eli was born. With the couple working from home and looking after their new-born, they created a number of recipes which were tried and tested on family and friends. The positive feedback was amazing and the couple decided to produce the bread and pastries commercially.
“Working from home was great in the sense that we were close by for Eli but it was difficult to produce the quantities of food needed from our small kitchen. We decided to do two things – firstly to name the business after Eli and then find suitable premises to upscale our work,” said Sylvester.
It was a Facebook post in Summer 2020 that first alerted Sylvester and Ana to the free start-up support they could access via The Business Factory – North Tyneside Council’s business support programme.
The menu of services was exactly what they needed and they were quick to make use of online workshops and resources to learn about topics such as marketing, building websites and taking on commercial premises.
With the opportunity to spend some one-to-one time with a Business Advisor as well as a Specialist Consultant in accountancy, Sylvester worked hard to get the financials prepared to the point where they were ready to go.
Janice Ross MBE, Business Advisor said, “I was continually impressed by Sylvester’s work ethic and determination. Timing is a key skill in baking, so we took the business planning process step by step, much the same as following a recipe. Knowing what the outcome would look like, and what needed to be done to get there, was a great way for Sylvester to plan the new business as well as a new lifestyle for his family.”
With support from North Tyneside Business Forum and The Business Factory, the couple found a unit in Killingworth and created Eli’s Bakery.
Commenting on the success they’ve enjoyed since opening the doors to Eli’s Bakery, Sylvester said, “We have gained a large customer base from the nearby industrial estates and beyond. Customers are coming to us from West Moor, Killingworth and even Newcastle to taste our speciality breads and cakes. We have chosen the right place for the business and we are grateful to everyone who has helped us on our journey.”
Throughout the pandemic, The Business Factory has been supporting residents and businesses to start and grow their businesses. The programme is delivered on behalf of North Tyneside Council by TEDCO Business Support Limited, whose business advisors have experience of running their own business, so they know exactly how it feels to take the leap into self-employment.
You can find out more about Eli’s Bakery on their website.