Big River Bakery is a social enterprise with a social purpose of making good food available to all - regardless of age, gender, religion, disability or socio-economic status. We provide a place in the community where everyone is welcome. Our model is complex for a small business - but one we try to make as inclusive as possible. We have a wide following both at home in the North East, across the UK and globally.
As well as providing employment for 15 people (a quarter of our employees are neuro-diverse/have mental health issues and need extra support) we provide daily free food and hot drinks to those in need, including free weekly lunches for all. We provide daily free breakfasts for local school children not able to access breakfasts or breakfast clubs and free baking sessions with schools in and out of term time. We also provide free baking sessions to the wider community and organisations - most recently to organisations supporting ex- army veterans and those working with people suffering from dementia and their carers.
We also try and promote Kindness - by rewarding acts of kindness across the UK - with our free weekly Kindness Cookie scheme https://bigriverbakery.myshopify.com/pages/kindness-cookie
We run a commercial model - where 90% of our income is generated by sales (shop, catering, wholesale and on-line). We also run paid for baking courses for the public.
There are many ways in which businesses can help us deliver our business model through business to business transactions:
- Corporate baking team building days.
- Catering - we can provide breakfast, lunch and event catering.
- Corporate hampers & gifts - we can supply hampers / other bakery products / goods and ship across the UK to your clients / customers.
- Sponsor our Kindness Cookie Scheme - whether it's for one week, a month, or a year - your logo and details will appear on our promotions / details sent out with the Cookie - and you will be part of our UK wide mission to spread a ripple of kindness.
- Scotty the Stottie Cake: we have books, soft toy and a giant Scotty available for events. Ideal for presents for children, NE children xmas gifts / santa's grotto gifts. Profts support not only our own children's projects - but we are supporting CHUF (Children's Heart Unit Fund) at the Freeman hospital.
