Anglesey's Becws Môn wants to be 'go to' bakery for the island

A new bakery on Anglesey is proving a major success with plans to “dominate” the market on the island.

Becws Môn was started up seven months ago by Benjamin Lee and Richard Lewis, in Gaerwen, Anglesey, known as the ‘bread basket of Wales’.

The pair had worked together as bakers when they were teenagers before going their separate ways, with Benjamin staying in baking and Richard joining the Armed Forces.

But they have re-united for this venture that is now supplying more than 70 outlets on Anglesey and employing 16 staff.

They plan to expand further and also hope to open artisan bakery shops on the island.

Benjamin, 40, owner of Benjamin Lee Chocolatier & Patissier in Menai Bridge, said: “I worked with Richard as a 15-year-old at Turners in Llangefni, we worked well together but our careers went in different directions.

“I stayed with baking while he went to join the Armed Forces and was then a project manager.

“I now have 25 years of experience in baking and he has years of experience in project management so we compliment each other perfectly.

“Since starting up the bakery has gone very well, ahead of expectations.”

Their aim was to establish themselves as the ‘go-to’ bread wholesaler on Anglesey for restaurants and shops on the island.

They also sell their products through Benjamin’s Llangefni stores Becws Mefus and Becws Bont.

He said: “Our aim was not to take on the world, we wanted to dominate Anglesey – so people on the island could buy bread made here and help create jobs here.

“People want to buy local, but they also want to buy quality and that is what we are about.

“We have created our own new recipes.

“We are a true craft baker, we hand mould our cobs, that is the difference with us and many of our rivals.

“There is a very strong bakery team here.

“There is so much knowledge with our staff and we are also always looking at new things, the mistake many bakeries have made is that they have not moved on, not diversified.”

They can produce 80 bakery products from the site and currently supply dozens of restaurants and shops across the island.

Benjamin added: “We want more shelf space, we are the wholesale bakery for Anglesey and want everyone to be able to get our products.”

On their future plans, he added: “We want to keep expanding and keep adding new jobs here.

“Once we are fully established here we will look at further expansion beyond Anglesey but for now our focus is fully on the island.

“There is a large market here and the potential for more growth.”