In this episode of the Big River Bakery podcast, hosted by Andy Haddon and Gail Lawler, focuses on "The Power of the Stottie and Kindness." They explore how the stottie—a traditional North East bread—has become a symbol of resilience, innovation, and community pride, and how the bakery has harnessed kindness to create a ripple effect of positivity and impact. Key highlights include:
The Origins and History of the Stottie:
The stottie originated from necessity during times of poverty, serving as a resourceful and quick way to feed large families. It embodies the resilience and innovation of North East communities, serving as a symbol of overcoming hardship through innovation and collaboration.Creative Initiatives Featuring the Stottie:
The creation of Scotty the Stottie as a character in children’s books, a mascot, and even a video game (Scotty’s Kindness Quest) to engage young audiences and teach values like kindness and sustainability.
National Stottie Cake Week was introduced to celebrate the heritage of the stottie while engaging businesses, schools, and bakeries to reconnect communities with their roots.Kindness as a Driving Force:
The bakery implements initiatives like the Kindness Cookie (a giant cookie given weekly to someone nominated for an act of kindness) and partnerships with organizations like Feeding Families to provide food for those in need.The stottie’s resurgence has created community pride and international recognition, highlighting the bakery’s commitment to spreading kindness and sustainability.Celebrate National Stottie Cake Week: Get involved in this annual celebration by supporting your local bakery, participating in events, or hosting your own stottie-themed gatherings to honour the region's rich food heritage. Find out more here
Spread Kindness with Big River Bakery: Nominate someone deserving for a Kindness Cookie through the bakery’s website here or even purchase a cookie reward scheme for your employees, or support their community initiatives by purchasing products like Scotty the Stottie books and toys here
Try Something New—Stottie Style: Order stotties online to experience this iconic North East bread wherever you are, or experiment with innovative recipes like the "Stottini" (a stottie panini). Share your creations online with the hashtag #ShowYourStottie to join the movement!
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