Leeds Bread Co-op keeps Meanwood in sourdough the co-operative way

Good bread takes time, and so does building a business the right way. Leeds Bread Co-op in Meanwood has done both, growing from a small idea shared by three bakers into one of the best-known independent bakeries in the city.

The bakery was founded by Simon Garrod, Phil Dacey and Ian Fitzpatrick, who had met while working at the Riverside Sourdough Bakery in Dock Street Market. Their aim was simple: to make tasty bread with healthy, local ingredients. To get started they raised over £40,000 through crowdfunding and public donations to set up their premises.

What makes the bakery unusual is the way it is run. It is a worker co-operative with no overall boss. According to Co-operatives UK, pay is equal whether someone bakes, sells or delivers, and every worker has an equal say in business decisions. New staff gradually become part-owners, with membership following a 12-month cycle.

The model has proved its worth. The co-op moved to a larger base in November 2016, and Co-operatives UK reported that by 2017 it was baking around 1,750 loaves a week and serving 170 individual subscribers. Positive News later reported a team of 21 employees.

The bread itself is the heart of it all. The bakery specialises in slowly fermented sourdough made with organic, locally sourced ingredients, alongside ciabatta, focaccia and baguettes. Its loaves have become a familiar sight on Leeds tables and in local cafés.

The co-op also shares its skills. It runs baking classes for people who want to master sourdough at home, and its stalls are a regular feature at farmers' markets, where many people first discover its bread.

Its commitment to its community goes beyond baking, too, with the co-operative well known for community work and for showing how a business can be run fairly while still being commercially successful.

At a time when people care more than ever about where their food comes from and how it is made, Leeds Bread Co-op offers a reassuring answer on both counts.

You can find the bakery at Unit 11, Penraevon Trading Estate, Meanwood, LS7 2AW, or look out for its stalls at local farmers' markets. Details of baking classes and subscriptions are shared through the co-op's own channels.