A love of baking turned into a recipe for success for a Naunton Beauchamp business owner who is rising to the top with help from Wychavon.
Tina Hawkes received £3,692 from Wychavon’s Rural Fund to support the expansion of her home baking business Eat Your Crusts Ltd, which specialises in sourdough breads, baguettes, cakes, scones and other delicious delights.
The money has been used to buy a larger commercial fridge and bread oven, which has allowed the dough maestro to double the number of loaves she can bake at once and expand the range of items she can make.
Tina founded the company in 2019 after looking for a career that would help her balance working with raising a young family.
“From a child I have always been in the kitchen and loved baking and when the children were younger we were always making things,” Tina said.
“I didn’t want to go back into an office, I needed something where I could be at home. I took a couple of bread making courses and loved it and thought this is it.
“I’m grateful for Wychavon’s support as the new equipment has allowed me to increase my production.”
Tina bakes about 40 loaves a week together with sweet bakes and sells them online through her Instagram channel @eat_your_crusts_ltd, craft fayres and local food events.
Anyone interested in sampling or stocking Eat Your Crusts’ bread should email
Cllr Paul Middlebrough, responsible for town and rural vitality on Wychavon District Council, said: “I’m delighted we have been able to support Tina with the next stage of Eat Your Crusts’ growth. Supporting businesses like this helps ensure we have a diverse and thriving local economy.”
The Wychavon Rural Fund was created out of the council’s share of the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Rural England Prosperity Fund. It supports micro and small businesses in rural areas with grants for capital projects to remove barriers to growth.
Businesses are expected to use their own funds to cover at least 50 per cent of the total cost of the project they receive a grant for.
Visit www.wychavon.gov.uk/rural-fund to find out more.
ENDS
Pictured: Cllr Paul Middlebrough, Executive Board Member responsible for town and rural vitality on Wychavon District Council and Tina Hawkes, founder of Eat Your Crusts Ltd.
