Scottish Bakers’ first female chief executive is confronting significant economic challenges as bakery businesses across Scotland grapple with rising costs and economic uncertainty.
Lesley Cameron, who took the helm of the historic trade association in September 2023, reports that sentiment in the sector has deteriorated amid continuing pressure from energy and ingredient costs.
“The mood music is quite low,” Cameron told The Herald, reflecting the difficult trading environment being experienced by many of the organisation’s members.
The cost crisis has forced many small and medium-sized bakery enterprises to adopt a more cautious approach to both daily operations and longer-term investments, creating a sense of widespread caution throughout the industry.
Despite these challenges, Cameron is preparing to unveil a refreshed strategy for Scottish Bakers, which was founded in 1891. The new vision will focus on building resilience and adaptability within the sector, with particular emphasis on “innovation, reformulation, sustainability, and people.”
Drawing on more than two decades of experience in food and drink, strategic engagement, and marketing from her previous role at Quality Meat Scotland, Cameron is taking a comprehensive approach to the industry’s future.
The organisation continues its advocacy work for the bakery sector, actively engaging with members to support their viability during what has been described as a “brutal cost climate.”
