Yield Bakery

Nothing beats the smell of freshly ground coffee and a handmade pasty, crimped that same day. Yield Bakery is the new St. Stephens Bakery, with the same friendly faces, and delicious recipes in the same location on the Ridgeway, just a brand-new identity. With the expanse of their new headquarters at Newnham Industrial Estate, they can increase the quantities without compromising on quality. We caught up with husband-and-wife owners, Stacey & Sam, 3 years since their first interview with us to find out more about the re-brand and their exciting new headquarters.

The Bakery has been a part of Stacey’s family ever since she started her first part-time job there at the age of 15. After working there for a few years, her parents took a keen interest in the business and put an offer across to purchase the bakery. In 2006, they gave the Bakery a lick of paint and a fresh new logo with the name ‘St. Stephens Bakery’ and brought the venture into the 21st Century.

In between Stacey’s studies and career as an occupational therapist, she liked to help her parents out in the Bakery when they needed an extra hand. She enjoyed seeing new and regular customers come through the door and felt a sense of pride knowing her family owned one of the best Bakeries in the Plymouth area.

Once they found a recipe that worked, and that the customers loved, they never changed it, even to this day. Some recipes are those of Stacey’s grandmother which has stayed untouched for years. Almost all of their products have always been and will always be fresh and handmade that same day, without fail.

Sam & Stacey

Stacey’s parents were reaching the age where they wanted to take a step back, therefore, in 2016, they asked Stacey and her husband Sam if they’d like to buy the business. At first, it seemed out-of-reach to the couple but after some consideration, they knew that this opportunity doesn’t come around every day. To honour the hard work and time that Stacey’s parents put into making the Bakery what it is today, she knew it was up to her to continue the family-run business.

Short of a few bob, Stacey and Sam worked tirelessly, juggling three kids, a new house and working two jobs, to be able to buy the business. In 2017, they eventually had the funds to be able to take ownership of the Bakery which came with a great sense of achievement.

Since 2017, there have been a lot of changes to the Bakery. Two years into the ownership, they outgrew their kitchen which forced them into purchasing the neighbouring lot with a kitchen upstairs. The Bakers Lounge cafe came soon after which offered their customers a place to sit whilst enjoying their freshly made goodies. With the initial plans to knock through halted, they knew they needed a plan B to be able to keep up with the increase in demand.

In June 2022, plans were afoot to open a large unit at Newnham Industrial Estate which meant they had a lot more space for a more efficient working environment. The original Bakery in St. Stephens Place is still there, but most of the produce is handmade just down the road at HQ and shipped up to the Bakery 5/6 times a day, every day.

Stacey and Sam felt it odd to be calling their HQ ‘St. Stephens Bakery’ when the unit wasn’t located on St. Stephens Place, therefore, they decided it was a great opportunity to put their own stamp on things and have a re-brand. To keep the branding uniform, they changed the name to ‘Yield Bakery’, inspired by a baking term in many of their recipes. This came with a brand-new logo for both premises which looks fresh and modern. Yield Bakery may be the new name but they have kept a sentiment of the original ‘St. Stephens’ on the Bakery shop frontage.

The idea to open up a HQ 5 minutes from St. Stephens Place was one of the best decisions the couple have made since owning the Bakery. Sam and Stacey’s father take turns shipping the fresh produce up to the Bakery every day, ready for their hungry customers. The pasties are still baked at the Bakery shop throughout the day but are now made from scratch at HQ.

With the aid of the larger space, they can ensure that all their staff are trained in each section, therefore, they can rotate to keep the staff happy and engaged.

Stacey and Sam are pondering the idea of opening up another shop in the near future, at a close distance from HQ. They would love to be able to share the quality of Yield with the whole of the Plymouth area in years to come. This growth will only happen if the standard of their bakes never become compromised.

Often you order pasties from pasty shops that are baked from frozen and shipped across the country before they land on your plate. When you order something from Yield, you can guarantee it will be made fresh by hand using traditional methods. No freezing involved (unless you purchase their fresh frozen pasties to cook at home), no preservatives and no additives.

Yield believes they have the perfect pasty recipe that will give its top competitors a run for their money. Packed full of piping-hot potato, swede, onion, steak and seasoning, encased in a golden shortcrust pastry, their pasties are one to beat.

With the countdown to Christmas fully underway, they have lots of festive-themed goodies to pick up such as fruit log cakes, mince pies, Xmas-themed decorated cakes, Xmas pasties as well as their Xmas baguettes. Their Xmas baguettes are filled with turkey crown slices, stuffing and pigs in blankets, topped with gravy and cranberry sauce served hot at their Bakery shop at St. Stephens place. They offer cocktail pasties throughout the year but these become increasingly more popular to order for Christmas/Boxing day nibbles.

Christmas bundle boxes can be purchased in the shop or online, which make great little gifts. These include brownie or cake boxes, 4 for £7 and muffin boxes, 4 for £6.

All orders for delivery can now be processed through their new website and shipped directly to your door. You can also ring up if you require a bespoke order or are not familiar with online ordering.

Working with the community is something Yield does very well. They are always happy to help out local charities and have recently offered to be the sponsor of the Plymouth Patriots Basketball team after really enjoying watching their games.

Reflecting about the journey over the last 5 years… “Nobody buys a bakery business in the hope of having a better work/life balance.’ – laughs Stacey. The whole family have worked endlessly in order to keep the standard high and the customers happy which has come with a lot of life sacrifices. In the near future, they would love to be in a position where they can hire a production manager that can oversee the team meaning Stacey and Sam can enjoy their family life a little more. With family being at the core of the business, Stacey and Sam felt it was only right to work up until Christmas Eve and then let the whole team have the rest of December to relax and enjoy being with their families.

They say everything happens for a reason. What started as disappointing news about the Bakers Lounge, turned into a giant leap forward without them even realising at first. With plans to expand even further with a second shop soon, Sam and Stacey are only just getting started.

www.yieldbakery.co.uk  01752 330330
info@yieldbakery.co.uk Unit 6, St. Stephens Place, Ridgeway, Plympton