Sam’s Pantry was born out of frustration and inspired by one little man who loves cake.
Take a moment and close your eyes. Imagine it is your 3rd birthday, everyone is singing Happy Birthday, you make a wish and blow out your candles. Imagine if that wish was a simple as - please let me be able to eat my birthday cake! Having been diagnosed with a dairy intolerance 9 months previous, my happy smiley boy, Sam faced the possibility of having to make such a wish.
Determined not to let this happen I searched high and low to find a delicious cake for my little boy. Eventually I found Gluten free bakery that made a dairy free cake. It had to be transported half way across the country and to say it was the worst for wear on arrival was an understatement. We made the best of it, even though I wasn’t the delectable cake I wanted. Little did I know this was the seed that would blossom into a business idea 6 months later.
In November 2011 after 10 years in the construction industry I found myself unemployed and trying to ‘re-invent’ myself. After many discussions with my ‘better’ half on what was my plan, I decided to explore the idea of manufacturing dairy free confectionary to see if there was a market for it. After consultation with others, more experienced and qualified than me it seems there is.
Do not be put off by the fact that our cakes are dairy free, they are delish as many of my friends, family and customers will testify to. We simply make our cakes with dairy free ingredients.
And where did the name come from? My teacher, my Mam - Alice. All those childhood hours spent making fairy buns and apple tarts has paid off.
Sam’s Pantry is only in its infancy, but I would never have gotten off the ground if it wasn’t for the support and encouragement of my family and friends, especially my nearest and dearest, Stephen – who has now been appointed official cake taster (after Sam of course)
xxx Ashling :)
