General News
25 October, 2024
Known for making some of the best pies around, Bow Bakery marks 50 years
Rainbow and Hopetoun's Bow Bakery turns 50 in 2024.
Known across the Wimmera and Mallee for the quality of its pies, in 2024 Bow Bakery celebrates 50 years in business under the ownership of the Cocks family.
Bow Bakery's Stuart Cocks reflected on the milestone, saying 'it feels like a long time ago now.'
"There's been a lot of changes in 50 years," he said.
With its original bakery in Federal Street, Rainbow, Bow Bakery's expansion to include a store in Lascelles Street, Hopetoun is what Mr Cocks said is key to have given the business sustainability, particularly in such remote and rural communities.
"We've expanded as far as we probably could, which keeps things ticking over," he said.
With a reputation for its pies, it's not uncommon to hear Bow Bakery's praises being sung by a traveller passing through the Southern Mallee towns.
Or by a member of a sporting club who enjoys a Bow Bakery pie from the canteen of one of the many teams the local business supports.
"It definitely feels good, gives you a bit of a buzz when you're travelling around and people say you've got the best pies going around," Mr Cocks said.
Working with the community is something the Bow Bakery prides itself on.
"We always try and incorporate the community with sponsorship," Mr Cocks said.
"We try and sponsor most of the clubs around."
But, when it comes to the pies themselves, Mr Cocks said the business's reputation for the Aussie staple is just down to a good quality product.
"We always use good quality products, buy good quality meat from a butchers shop just up the road," he said.
While few aspects of the now 50-year-old business remain, Bow Bakery hopes to look back on the half-century with an event in November.