Community
4 July, 2025
Camperdown Bakery celebrates milestone
CAMPERDOWN Bakery has marked a special milestone this week, with owner Andrea Mutch attributing the business’ milestone to her staff and her customers.
The bakery this week marked ten years of operation, with Ms Mutch taking on the business back in 2015.
She said it didn’t feel like ten years had passed since she bought the bakery, with an initial goal to work for three years before selling the business.
“I just think it’s amazing – it’s a credit to all my staff who have worked here over those ten years I’ve had it,” Ms Mutch said.
“I didn’t think I’d make it ten years, and it’s just flown – it doesn’t seem like it was ten years ago when I decided to take an adventure as someone who didn’t have a clue what I was doing to now.
“When my children grew up, I applied in town for some jobs because money was getting tighter.
“But nobody would employ a 49-year-old – I had no computer skills, and I hadn’t worked for 30 years since my children had been born.
“It wasn’t much of a business when I first bought it – it was very run down – and I thought I’d give it a go as I could either make it or break it.”
The business has stayed mostly the same throughout its ten years – continuing to serve large cakes and baked goods despite the challenges Ms Mutch has faced in the past five years.
This included the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as personal health challenges – Western District Newspapers reported earlier this year Ms Mutch was currently receiving treatment for renal cell carcinoma and has been supporting the centre where she has been receiving treatment.
She said she will be continuing to run the bakery until she was no longer able to.
“I have been given a life expectancy, but while I can still have my treatment and look after my staff and my bakery, I will stay here,” Ms Mutch said.
“It could be five years, it could be six.
“This is my safe haven – this is what gets me up every morning. If I wasn’t working, I’d be sitting at home, my mind would be ticking and I reckon I’d be going downhill a lot quicker than what I am now.
“It is long hours – I start at half-past four or five in the morning, and I’m here until three or four in the afternoon – but I love it.”
Ms Mutch credits part of the Camperdown Bakery’s staying power to her dedicated staff.
“The staff I have now are brilliant – I love my girls, I always have, and I love my juniors,” she said.
“When I first started, there were three of us here – now there are 12 on the books.
“I have gone through a lot of staff – I’ve never fired anyone in the ten years I’ve been here, they’ve all left on their own accords.
“I couldn’t have done it from day dot without my staff – my staff are brilliant. They know I have my good days and my bad days.”
Ms Mutch also credits her success to her customers, who have shown their support through both her business and through her personal health battle.
“My customers are just so sweet – I got flowers on Tuesday, they come in and give me kisses and cuddles, and they always ask about me when I’m not here,” she said.
“Not only do I have my family behind me, but I’ve got a lot of my dear friends, staff and customers who will always have my back.
“I love my customers – my customers always say it feels like walking in to a big family home here.
“I have customers from far and wide. The support I have had from my customers from day dot has just been brilliant.
“I’ve had customers who have passed on over the years – or they’re now up at Sunnyside or Merindah – and I miss them terribly.
“You always remember them, and you always remember your good customers.”
Ms Mutch also extended her gratitude to her son Jett and daughter Kira for their support behind the scenes, and said she was looking forward to the future of the Camperdown Bakery.
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