We’re now into our family’s fourth generation at our long-standing South Shields bakery
A South Shields bakery is celebrating 55 years in business.
Opened by Ken Lee on February 15, 1971, Lee’s Family Bakers, on Stanhope Road, in South Shields is marking 55 years in business - with the fourth generation of the family now working at the popular shop.
Now co-managed by sisters Clair Campbell and Susan Smith, the pair learnt everything they know from their granddad Ken and dad David, who also worked in the shop for around 45 years.
Having marked the impressive milestone for the business, Clair gave the Shields Gazette an insight into the 24-hour operation that keeps Lee’s Family Bakers going on a daily basis.
She said: “It’s amazing, I don’t think that many small businesses have lasted as long as what we have, especially through the hard times.
“It is a 24-hour operation, so the bakers start through the night to get the goods ready - I don’t think a lot of people realise that we are open at six o’clock in the morning and go through until 5pm.
“Literally as soon as we pull the shutters down, the next bakers are coming in to start again, it is a rolling thing all the time.”
Clair also touched on what her granddad Ken would have made of the shop if he could see it in the modern day and thanked the business’ loyal customers for their support over the years.
She added: “I often think if he came in what he would make of the place and the changes that we’ve made.
“It did start off as most shops did in the 70s as a little corner shop so we’ve dragged it kicking and screaming into modern times while still trying to keep the traditional feel.
“I want to say a big thank you to our customers because without them, we’d be nothing.
“They’ve stayed loyal to us and we hope that we always provide a good service with quality products.
“We employ local people, use local ingredients and we’d like to think that we do a good job.”
Lee’s has also welcomed the fourth generation of the family into the business, with Susan’s son, Leighton Smith, having recently finished an apprenticeship in baking.
Leighton has expressed his pride at stepping into the long-standing family operation and has looked ahead to the next 55 years.
He commented: “It makes myself and the family really proud, it is a big legacy to carry on so hopefully I do just as good as a job as them.
“My granddad was the one who taught me to bake and then I started falling in love with it.
“I went over to Germany to develop my skills and it has been good so far.
“It means a lot to me and hopefully I’ll be able to continue it for another 55 years.”
You can keep up to date with Lee’s Family Bakers by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/lees.bakers.
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