New Craig’s Bakehouse debuts wholesale range at Naracoorte Foodland to ‘incredible’ reception from customers

A new country bakery has launched its anticipated first batch of wholesale products at the local supermarket – so what’s the reaction been?

Concept designs for the exterior of Craig's Bakehouse & Cafe. Picture: Associated Design Studio

After months of anticipation, Naracoorte locals can finally get their hands – and tastebuds – on products from the town’s newest bakery as the business launches its wholesale range at a local grocery store.

Craig’s Bakehouse and Cafe debuted its wholesale range last week at Naracoorte Foodland, with products now available to buy as the local grocer restocks every two days.

The anticipated wholesale range features classic bakery staples including almond croissants, apricot Danish, torpedo buns, cinnamon buns, herb and garlic twist bread and the all-important finger-bun.

The Limestone Coast's newest bakery – Craig's Bakehouse and Cafe – has launched its first batch of products, with a range of baked goods now available to purchase from Naracoorte Foodland. Picture: Facebook.

Bakehouse owner Craig McCallum said he and his team wanted to launch a range that captured the essence of Craig’s Bakehouse – “fresh, artisanal, and something for everyone”.

“The decision on what to send was straightforward: we focused on what had resonated most with our customers during taste tests of samples handed out across the area and community feedback. And because we’re always listening, we’ve already made a few tweaks to ensure our products are the absolute best they can be,” Mr McCallum said.

He said the community response to the initial range has been “incredible”, filled with plenty of positive comments as well as some suggestions on what else people would like to see from the products – such as adding more gravy to the meat pie and extra fruit to the torpedo buns.

Mr McCullum says he hopes to honour the heritage and legacy of Morris Bakery through Craig's Bakehouse & Cafe, while also infusing it with a fresh, modern spirit that will bring something new to the town. Picture: Craig's Bakehouse & Cafe.

“We’re grateful for the feedback, we heard you loud and clear, and have embraced the opportunity to make adjustments on the fly,” Mr McCallum said.

With the wholesale aspect on the business officially launched, Mr McCallum said the next step was getting Craig’s bricks-and-mortar location on Smith St ready to go.

Craig’s Bakehouse & Cafe has taken up residence at the site of the former Morris and Sons Bakery, a once locally-beloved business that fell on hard times and abruptly closed its doors for good in February this year.

End of an era: Naracoorte's iconic Morris and Sons Bakery has closed its doors after over eighty years of business in the country town. Picture: Jessica Dempster

Mr McCallum said work on the bakery-cafe fit-out is set to begin in about three weeks and the business is eyeing a late November/pre-Christmas opening.

“Craig’s is about creating something special for this community, and we’re just getting started,” he said.