Delicious and Sweet Bakery opening first store at Mackay Northern Beaches

A Calen grandmother retrofitted her home so she could meet the sweet tooths wanting her baked goodies but now she wants her kitchen back

The new Delicious and Sweet Bakery store will open at Northern Beaches Central, Mackay (near Coles) on Saturday, March 13. Picture: Contributed

A Calen grandmother had to retrofit her home so she could meet the sweet tooths wanting her baked goodies but now she wants her kitchen back.

Debbie Meates said she was opening her first retail shop in Mackay after starting Delicious and Sweets Bakery four years ago.

"It grew to the point where it was too big for home," Ms Meates said.

"During COVID, basically our business grew 200 per cent because of people wanting deliveries.

"I was baking through the night seven days a week, sleeping three hours during the day.

"I'm always chained to the oven," she said with a laugh.

Ms Meates said her "beautiful" bakery would open at Northern Beaches Central on Saturday, March 13.

The new Delicious and Sweet Bakery store will open at Northern Beaches Central, Mackay (near Coles) on Saturday, March 13. Picture: Rae Wilson

"You're going to get half of sweets as in cakes, doughnuts, tarts slices, all those yummy pastries, but we're also doing savoury food," she said.

"It's a grab and go bakery. It's not sit-down meals. It's grab a quiche, sausage roll, a coffee and go."

YUMMO: Some of the food offered by the Delicious and Sweet Bakery. Picture: Contributed

The creative genius credited her success to customers being lured to her market stall by a secret family doughnut recipe that took three months to perfect.

"Over four years (the stall) grew … we went from baking 12 (doughnuts) for a market to baking 400 a week," Mrs Meates said.

But the mum had not always considered baking a profession, formerly a veterinary nurse and professional dog groom shop owner in Melbourne.

"I was in the complete opposite profession," Mrs Meades said with a laugh.

"I used to get sick in Melbourne because of the weather … I couldn't function.

"My doctor said you needed to move up to a warmer climate."

The creative genius behind Delicious and Sweet Bakery store, Debbie Meates. Picture: Contributed

Mrs Meades said she could not find work in Mackay and so turned to what she had loved doing for her children growing up.

She said they would celebrate the bakery's opening with prizes, taste-testing and a 10 per cent discount to anybody who mentioned the Facebook page.

It will open from 8am until stock runs out.

"It's all fallen into place," Mrs Meades said.

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Originally published as Delicious and Sweet Bakery opening first store at Mackay Northern Beaches