Unity Bakery, 70 years of baking bread, cakes in a wood fuelled oven

Seventy years after Ulrica Williams kneaded an idea into a thriving business, its legacy lives on in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG).

On September 20, 2017, Unity Bakery celebrated its 70th year of offering persons bread and cakes baked in ovens fuelled by wood.

And, according to Kenny Williams, nephew of Ulrica Williams and manager of Unity Bakery, it is this method of baking that has kept patrons coming back over the years.

“People love the natural bread, its texture and smoky scent. Although we have done structural upgrades to the building over the years, we have never changed the way we baked since 1947.”

Williams stated that his aunt, now deceased, dreamt of owning a bakery since she was a little girl. So, when she finished school and was invited to teach, she chose to go to a bakery instead to learn the skill. And, after working for over three decades between Sanitary and Popular bakeries, she branched off on her own.

“Despite my love for football, I was always in the bakery with my aunty; that’s how I developed a passion for baking early. It was because of how much I loved baking why she left the bakery to me when she died in January 1999,” Williams explained.

He thanked all the people who have supported the business over the years and helped to make it a success.

When SEARCHLIGHT visited Unity Bakery, patrons were eager to talk about their experience at the bakery.

Lennox Delplesche accounted of his involvement with Unity Bakery over the years.

“I knew of the business since I was a little boy around Miss Williams. I watched it grow from a small mauby shop and bakery to a business everybody knows and loves. As a youth, I took the bread to buses and boats on trolleys to send them to Bequia and parts of the country, like Layou, Barrouallie, and Chateaubelair. Although I don’t work at the bakery anymore, I still come by to get my bread and things.”

Customer Zen Punnett described Unity Bakery as a great shop that supplies just what she needs for her shop. She said one of the reasons she has patronized the business for years is because of the friendly service and convenience.

And, Roxanne Williams, granddaughter of the late Ulrica Williams, said the bakery that she was basically born into is known for its bread, tarts, coconut slices and rock cakes, people’s favourites.

Unity Bakery currently employs six full-time workers and is located at Lower Middle Street near Prescod and Sons Ltd. (KJ)