Tony Vandyke, founder and managing director of the award-winning Vandyke Bros, is moving the speciality coffee business to its new home at Balcormo on Balcaskie Estate in the East Neuk of Fife.
The move will allow the company to expand into Central Belt Scotland, working more closely with hospitality businesses as well as consolidating its direct to consumer sales. The new space will provide Vandyke Bros with a larger production area as well as a space that can be used for wholesale barista training with customers, meetings and coffee tastings. The longer-term plan for the space is to use it to host open days and consumer oriented courses in coffee.
The new base will also allow Vandyke Brothers to join the existing community of food and drink producers based at Balcaskie and grow its consumer sales by taking advantage of the monthly markets at Bowhouse, which is also based on Balcaskie Estate.
Established in 2016, The Vandyke Bros started their journey in the Highland town of Cromarty, where Tony moved to from Australia in 2014. The inspiration was simply good coffee – an interest that developed during Tony’s time in Australia. The Vandyke Bros ethos lies in showing respect to the coffee farmers – who produce and nurture this crop, allowing it to take on the flavours of its location. As a roastery, their sole aim is to preserve and share this good work.
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The name – Vandyke Bros – was taken from his father’s business, which ran from the 1920s to the 1950s. Tony’s father was a successful carpenter, builder and architect who created a thriving business having invented a prefabricated building system that transformed postwar urban development in Australia. This was further inspiration for Tony, to build a successful business of his own.
Now with three members of staff, The Vandyke Bros have won several awards for their coffee, including Great Taste Awards for the last three years and the prestigious three-star award. They are also now a ‘Great Taste Producer’.
Balcaskie Estate covers 4,500 acres of organic and regeneratively farmed land in the East Neuk of Fife. It is home to a growing community of producers, which works to transform local ingredients into artisan food and drink including those at Bowhouse.
- Butchery at Bowhouse: which sells a range of grass-fed, organic Balcaskie Estate beef, lamb, pork and mutton, alongside other local game.
- Stocks Events: a luxury catering business with a cookshop and demo kitchen, they provide a wide range of services for both private clients and occasions, with a focus on local produce and seasonality.
- Angry Kulture: vegan fermented Korean style kimchi made in one of the courtyard units.
- Scotland the Bread: an innovative mill producing wholemeal organic flours and grains grown on Balcaskie Estate.
- Baern Café: the cafe offers hyper-seasonal, producer-led, locally sourced food and homemade drinks with a particular emphasis on sourdough and baking.
- East Neuk Market Garden: pesticide-free, seasonal vegetables beloved by chefs and locals alike
- Futtle Brewery: rums, ciders, beers and an impressive selection of natural wines are all available to take away or enjoy in the tap room.
- Keeping the Plot: which grows and sells home-grown fresh flowers and bouquets.
Tony Vandyke, founder of Vandyke Bros, says: “I’m so very happy to be here, in so many ways. The Balcaskie Estate has done something exceptional here. Balcaskie and the Bowhouse have a reputation and a following that gives us renewed momentum.
“Geographically, we also have improved access to a bigger market, a professional and world class setup to grow our business, which we really want to do.
“This move will allow more people to experience our coffee and, in doing so, appreciate the hard work the farmers do in growing it.”
For more information and updates, please visit vandykebrothers.co.uk
