An award-winning Inverness bakery has expanded its business in the city – creating six new jobs in the process.
The Three Little Bakers has opened up new premises in the Longman, on Harbour Road, after winning new contracts from shops, hotels and other companies across the region.
The bakery was recently awarded as serving up the best morning roll in the country, as well as the top strawberry tart.
They also won the gold awards in the Craft Baker of the Year ceremony.
The company has been run by Paddy and Jane Murphy, both 50, over the last five-and-a-half years.
Mr Murphy said: “We have outgrown our premises in Cradlehall and needed to expand.
“We found these premises on Harbour Road and it seemed an ideal place, with potential to pick up custom from all the businesses in the area.
“The new premises have a bakery production facility and also a retail area at the front.
“When we took over the company we had a five-year plan to look at bigger premises and this has now happened.”
He added: “We are delighted to have won awards recently, and that has generated more business.
“We have contracts from the National Trust of Scotland for Culloden Battlefield, which is fantastic, as well as many more with shops and hotels – including orders from Ullapool.
“The business has grown above 10% year on year, which has led us to making this move.
“This will allow us to continue to grow, as we struggled with very cramp space at Cradlehall.
“We will continue to have a presence there, as it has been very popular.
“The new space is four times the size of where we were and this has seen us increase our staff numbers by six to almost 20.”
Loccal councillor Duncan Macpherson praised the “entrepreneurial thinking” by the business couple.
He said: “This is a small business who are growing and helping provide essential jobs in the city.
“It is great to see a company like this striving ahead successfully. It is brilliant they are flourishing. They have been a hit in Cradlehall and I have no doubt they will be a hit in the Longman, providing food to a lot of hungry workers there.”
