The Almond Thief Disappears – The Daily Knead Appears

The deep pocketed gourmands of Totnes are reeling at the news that the Almond Thief in Dartington are closing after many years of supplying deliciously fashionable baked goods to the region. The hugely successful artisan bakery has been looking for a buyer to take over the business for a while and sadly a deal was never achieved, although the cafe in Plymouth will remain open. Sadly for Totnes however, the iconic bakery will be much missed.

So there is clearly a bap in the market** and the pottery/cafe/knick knack/deli/tourist attraction/hairdresser combo, China Blue on Station Road is stepping in with an new timely alternative; The Daily Knead.

They’re described as “a new destination for handcrafted bread, buttery pastries, and expertly brewed coffee” and is opening next Friday 11th April. The business also says it is “dedicated to quality and community” and as a temptation are offering the first 10 customers a free coffee over Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the team will be on hand to showcase their signature bakes.

The on-site bakery is being prepared for next weekend’s opening and head baker David says “Our goal is to create a bakery that Totnes can be proud of. We’re passionate about quality, and we believe great baking starts with great ingredients. Whether it’s our sourdough or our signature almond croissants, we want every bite to reflect our commitment to craftsmanship and flavour.”

Many ingredients are sourced from local Devon suppliers, like bakery staples from Forest Produce in Exeter and artisan coffee from The Coffee Company in Newton Abbot, some key items, like regenerative flour from Wild Farmed in the Cotswolds, are selected for their quality and innovation.

The bakery’s standout offerings will include Filled Croissants and Danish Pastries, Stoneground Sourdough Loaves and they will be serving artisan coffee with other hot drinks. The team is dedicated to supporting local producers and reducing food waste. As a takeaway bakery, they’ve also committed to using eco-friendly packaging and reducing their environmental footprint wherever possible.

Although focused on takeaway, The Daily Knead aims to become a central part of the Totnes community. “We want to be more than just a place to grab a coffee and a pastry.” says Kirsty Blackler-Hinks, Marketing Manager. “We’re here to connect with the people around us and celebrate the incredible food culture of Devon.”

The scheme to open the Bakery was hatched last year and as the bakery is part of the China Blue ’empire’ they didn’t consider taking over the Almond Thief branding. Sadly for the gastronomists at the top of town who are used to queueing outside The Albatross, they will have to trek down to Station Road to pick up that almond croissant, but at least a few calories will have been expended in the process.

The Almond Thief produce will be a hard act to follow and it’s quite obvious that there are going to be judgements and comparisons, however Kirsty seems very excited for next weekend after months of preparation.

The opening event is from Friday 11th through to Sunday 13th.

For more information, visit www.thedailyknead.co.uk or email: thedailyknead@china-blue.co.uk.

**This joke/pun is courtesy of Derryck Strachan