George Ross – known to so many across the North-East as “JG” – is celebrating his 90th birthday on Thursday 16th October. Born in Daviot, George was the only son in a family of six. His first steps into baking came as a young boy in the local village bakery, where he learned the trade from the ground up.
After gaining early management experience as a Bakery Manager in Braemar, George and his wife Betty purchased the Premnay Bakery in 1962, in the small village of Auchleven, laying the foundations for what would become J.G. Ross (Bakers) Ltd.
Challenging times lay ahead for the couple, but through long hours, determination, and a flair for business, George grew the bakery from a small village shop into one of Scotland’s best-known family bakery businesses. In 1973, the bakery relocated to Port Elphinstone in Inverurie, and in 2007 a purpose-built £4.2 million craft bakery was opened at Highclere in Inverurie – a major milestone that also marked George’s retirement. Despite stepping back, he still visits the bakery office most days to stay in touch.
Today, J.G. Ross employ 310 staff across 20 shops, producing an impressive 190,000 handmade butteries every week and serving communities throughout the North-East. To celebrate this milestone birthday, all individual takeaway cakes – yum yums, doughnuts, muffins, tray bakes and fancies – will be on sale for just 90p each on Thursday 16th October in all J.G. Ross shops.
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Beyond business, George has been a tireless supporter of his local community and the Scottish baking industry. He twice served as National President of the Scottish Association of Master Bakers, was awarded the UK Baking Industry Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Baking Industry in 2015, and held the role of Deacon of the Aberdeen Baker Incorporation.
Locally, he has been an active Rotarian since 1978, serving as President twice and being awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship. He also chaired the Inverurie Business Association, and was a founder of the Garioch Sports Trust. George’s story – told in his autobiographies, An Unlikely Lad and We Knead the Dough – reflects a lifetime of resilience, community service, and pride in his craft.
