The Local Food Fund has made its way to Hamilton, helping to support in the expansion of a successful local bakery in the city’s east end.
Gala Bakery, owned and operated by the Janosevic family since 2002, has been growing in size and popularity since its beginning for their specialty European-style baked goods. They began modestly using family recipes, and soon saw a market for wholesaling their products. In 2008, the couple bought a 3,500-square-foot production facility in Stoney Creek, and earlier this year in May moved into their current 11,000-square-foot space.
Jacqueline Janosevic shares in this Hamilton Spectator article that they’ve been growing so quickly they simply need more people to make the goods for all the customers and product they have. Due to expanding production and customers, Gala’s already doubled their workforce, hoping to hire another 10 to 15 in the next year.
The rapidly growing bakery has seen great success in developing key partnerships with major suppliers and distributors, and sees interest from local independent shops, as well as larger, wholesale chains. Since 2002, sales have grown 450 per cent.
Recent support from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs – a $241,000 matching grant under the Local Food Fund – has assisted Janosevic with their expansion, allowing the purchase of new equipment they otherwise couldn’t afford.
Gala is a fantastic illustration of how the local food fund can support local workers and local talent, bringing unique goods to our province, and ultimately supporting the local economy.
Gala is well-known for their burek, a traditional stuffed pastry popular in the Balkans, the Middle East and North Africa; Gala’s burek stands out here, as it’s authentically hand-tossed. So be sure to go visit and take a bite out of what the local food fund helps to support.
The Local Food Fund is a key component of the government’s Local Food strategy, designed to support innovative projects that celebrate local food and economic growth in Ontario.
Read more about the Local Food Fund here, and remember to support your local shops and businesses this holiday season!