Craig and Lesley McPhie become custodians of respected traditional bakery.
Husband and wife team Stephen and Rona McAllister, owners of Kandy Bar Bakery, one of Ayrshire’s best-known traditional craft bakeries, have announced their retirement following the successful sale of the business. The couple devoted decades to building and growing the family business, which has almost a century of history. Craig and Lesley McPhie are the new custodians, committed to preserving its heritage.
The retirement marks the end of a remarkable chapter for the bakery. Stephen and Rona McAllister carefully chose to pass the business into the hands of Craig and Lesley McPhie, who are committed to preserving its heritage while thoughtfully investing in its future.
Stephen McAllister, Retiring Owner of Kandy Bar Bakery, reflected on their long tenure and the decision to step back. “After more than fifty wonderful years, the time has come for Rona and I to step back and enjoy our retirement. Owning and running Kandy Bar Bakery has never simply been a job. It has been our life’s work, our passion and very much part of our family.”
McAllister also expressed gratitude for their customers and team. “We have been incredibly fortunate to serve generations of customers, work alongside an outstanding team and become part of the communities we proudly serve. Together we have built a business founded on quality, tradition and trust, and we are immensely proud of everything that has been achieved.” He added that finding the right successors was crucial. “Deciding to retire was never going to be easy, and finding the right people to continue the bakery’s story was one of the most important decisions we have ever had to make. From the moment we met Craig and Lesley McPhie, we recognised that they shared our values, our passion for quality and our commitment to looking after both our staff and our customers.”
Stephen McAllister concluded: “We are delighted to be handing over the bakery to people who genuinely understand its history and respect everything it stands for. We know Kandy Bar Bakery is in safe hands and wish Craig, Lesley and the whole team every success as they begin this exciting new chapter.” Craig and Lesley McPhie have committed to preserving the values, craftsmanship, and traditions that have defined Kandy Bar Bakery for almost a century, ensuring the business continues to flourish.
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Following the acquisition, Managing Director Craig McPhie stated that the priority is to safeguard the bakery’s heritage, support its people, and continue delivering the products and service that customers have trusted. “We have not simply acquired a bakery. We have accepted responsibility for a business that generations of customers, dedicated staff and the McAllister family have built over almost a century. We see ourselves as custodians of that legacy, and it is both an honour and a privilege to continue that story.”
McPhie emphasised the long-term view of ownership. “Businesses like Kandy Bar Bakery are never truly owned. They are held in trust for the next generation. Our responsibility is to protect what has been built, support the people who make it special and leave it even stronger for those who follow us.” He assured customers: “From day one, our commitment is to preserve everything that customers have come to value while supporting the talented team whose dedication has made Kandy Bar Bakery what it is today. The familiar faces, the quality products and the friendly service that customers know and trust will remain at the very heart of the business.”
Craig McPhie acknowledged the depth of the inheritance. “We recognise that we are inheriting far more than a successful bakery. We are taking responsibility for relationships, traditions and a reputation built over generations through hard work, craftsmanship and integrity.” He affirmed that any future investment would be made carefully and respectfully, aimed at strengthening the business while remaining true to the values and heritage that have made Kandy Bar Bakery a well-loved institution within North Ayrshire and beyond.
