Duo are key ingredients in rise of town bakery as Nairn-based Ashers recognise their years of service to the company
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Two long-serving employees with Ashers bakery in Nairn have had their years of service recognised by the business.
Ashers, on the Balmakeith Industrial Estate, is one of the area’s oldest businesses and was founded in 1877.
Robbie Somerville spent 40 years with the company as bakery manager before his semi-retirement – and still keeps his hand in by doing a Sunday shift.
Another loyal member of staff, Barry Ross, who walked into the bakery’s former Bridge Street depot and asked for a job more than 30 years ago is still working full-time for the firm.
Run by brothers Ali and George Asher, great grandsons of the founder of the business, Ashers expanded in 2002 when it vacated its original bakery in Bridge Street to move to a new modern unit on the Balmakeith Industrial Estate.
“Robbie joined us as our bakery manager from a small family baker’s business in Carluke,” Ali said.
“He played a key role in the transfer from our Bridge Street bakery to Balmakeith.
“Bridge Street was constrained by the A96 on one side and the River Nairn on the other. It was on different levels and had lots of narrow corridors and wasn’t suitable for modern production needs.
“We had traffic issues getting supplies, loading and unloading and the time was right to move to the industrial estate which enabled us to double our productivity and increase staffing levels.
“We now employ a total of 110 staff – roughly half at the bakery and half at two shops in Nairn, two shops in Inverness and other outlets at Grantown, Aviemore, Forres and Elgin.
“Barry literally walked in off the street in 1991 and asked my father (James) for a job.
“Dad told him they had nothing going at the time, but he obviously made an impression and dad called him back a few weeks later and he has been with us ever since.
“Over the years we have had a
lot of employees who have remained with the firm most of their careers.
“Robbie and Barry have been very hard working and loyal staff and Robbie enjoys doing his Sunday shift when he can catch up with his mates.”
