People travel across Liverpool for The Wild Loaf's offering of sourdough bread, sandwiches and pastries.
The shop opened on Sefton Street, Dingle in 2022. However, business partners Jessica Doyle and Emily Sandeman have run the bakery, which focuses on sourdough bread, since 2017.
It was a sunny Friday afternoon when the ECHO visited the shop, found just away from the main road. Jessica, Emily and their team were busy preparing for the weekend rush.
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The Wild Loaf has become a destination for its host of loyal regulars and Saturday is their busiest day of the week. The popularity of the bakery was evident through the lack of loaves left on the shelves as closing time approached.
Jessica, 35, from Anfield, spoke to the ECHO about the business' origins and its success.
She said: "Emily and I met years ago, we're friends. She made a big leap and left her job for this.
"The two of us have been at this for seven years. We started with the bread - bread was the thing.
"Then the bread has been the most organic, it's led us to doughnuts and pasties, but that's all self-taught. We've taught ourselves everything.
"This particular shop is the newest phase of the Wild Loaf. We've been going since 2017.
"We've moved around various places in Liverpool, just because we started a business with very little funds, so we've done it very organically to get to here.
"We started off in Cains Brewery before it was anything really - we were one of the first people in there. That was 2017 and then we moved to the Buyers Club, had a space in the Pen Factory and now we're here.
"We've spent years trying to develop it and get it the way we want it. Fortunately we managed to do that just after covid.
"It was hit and miss whether we could because of all of the chaos. It was a case of biting the bullet and going for it, because it was now or never."
The Wild Loaf is one of a number of food outlets in the rather industrial setting of Sefton Street. Though she describes the location as being "a bit out of the way", Jessica is very happy with where she is. The sun beams down onto the glass storefront and outside seating for a very agreeable lunch spot in a place where you might not expect to find one.
Jessica said: "We wanted a space where we could bake everything fresh and sell it pretty much straight away as well. We used to do loads of wholesale but we don't do any wholesale anymore, we just focus on the shop."
She added: "We were led to this location because we wanted to keep it independent and wanted to keep it small. We've had people come and say they want to invest and maybe they could see it going bigger but we've always wanted to be the opposite of that - we want to be a small business.
"We saw lots and lots of places in town but the rent was just sky-high. We found this space.
"It worked out well, it's got a shop front, it's slightly out of the way but it's a destination. People are coming down. Having Brunswick train station helps.
"At first it was nail biting, it was terrifying thinking if we were doing the right thing. I was really nervous about it, but it felt like we just had to do it and attract people to us. That's what's been benefiting us.
"People will travel if it's good bread, if it's good quality stuff. I know I would. All it takes is just a little bit more effort."
The bread is the main draw, but the grilled cheese sandwich and the mozzarella, pesto and tomato sourdough focaccia sandwiches are also favourites among regulars. A number of enticing pastries, including indulgent cinnamon buns, adorn the counter.
It is no surprise then, that The Wild Loaf, has plenty of fans. More than 20,000 people follow on Instagram, where the intricate products are promoted.
If you have your eye on something in particular, you'll have to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
The customer loyalty means a lot to Jessica, who said: "We've had fantastic support since we started in 2017. I think there's always been a desire, especially in Liverpool, to support independents.
"Maybe the pandemic helped that idea, but I still think without it you would still have that desire to shop locally. People just want to help, I think people like seeing other people do well in Liverpool, they like supporting people. It's a lovely economy that exists.
"That support has always been there and I think that's because people can see you're making a product that makes people happy - that helps. We're not making anything that's too controversial - it just produces happiness."
That support is seen most on a Saturday. Jessica explained: "Saturday is the busiest time. It fluctuates but we live for Saturday.
"Every other day is busy but Saturday is the one. We might try and open on a Sunday because that might be busy as well, but we're alright.
"We're quite happy just ticking along. We have our expectations, which we're happy to meet, we're not pie in the sky type of people. Especially at the minute with things being very, very vulnerable (financially), it's nice to know that you've got your own little space and you're doing alright in it."
"Selling out of the products is rewarding and it always has been. Just knowing that it's selling and people are enjoying it is the one.
"It makes you get up and do it all again the next day, it's the reason why. It's a lot of work, but if you know that people are enjoying it, then it's all that matters."
The Wild Loaf is found on 133 Sefton Street, Dingle, L8 4BX. It is open from 8.30am to 3pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and open from 10am to 3pm on Saturday.
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