We've written before about some of the Danish connections in Cardiff, but this time the Trade and Invest team at the Welsh Government have delved a little deeper into a whole range of Scandinavian connections in Wales - including our very own Brød.
You can read the full article on the Trade and Invest Wales website.
Established by Betina Skovbro in 2015, Brød is a small, independent bakery and coffee shop, producing a range of freshly baked Danish breads, pastries and cakes. The business provides great fresh products, delivered with warm, friendly service.
The Danish Bakery prides itself in bringing a taste of Scandinavia to Wales’s capital city and was chosen as 2016’s Best New Business and 2017’s best Café/Coffee Shop in the Cardiff Life Awards.
You can read more of Betina's interview with Business Wales on their website.
It's quite a journey from Copenhagen to Cardiff. For Betina Skovbro, owner of the Danish Bakery it was one with many twists and turns - from young school girl, to holiday rep, nanny, mother, photographer, and finally baker. On January 27, 2017, as part of CDF Creative Mornings, Betina threw open the doors of the bakery to welcome a crowd of young creatives to hear her talk about that journey.
For more information about this talk and CDF Creative Mornings, please visit the Creative Morning's website.
When we opened the bakery back in November 2015, we were proud to be introducing a little bit of Danish culture to Cardiff. We‘ve made a lot of new friends since then and have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people and exchanging stories on all things Danish. But we’re also aware that we weren’t necessarily the first Danish business in our capital city. There are a few who were here before us, and while they may be varied in nature, they all seem to share common traits; a commitment to design and functionality coupled with some neat Scandinavian innovation.
Lego
Did you know that the name Lego derives from the Danish ‘leg godt’ - play well. It seems to sum it up perfectly. I’m sure many of us have spent endless hours - whether as a child or grown-up - using our imagination and some clever interlocking plastic bricks to build all manner of structures and stories. What started in Ole Kirk Kristiansen's carpentry workshop in Billund in 1932, is today a major international company - and now owned by his grandson, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen. Their headquarters remains in Billund, where you’ll also find the original - and dare we say - best Legoland. For a fix closer to home, pop into the St Davids Centre.
Lego Store, St Davids’s Centre, Cardiff, CF10 2EF
Ecco
If you haven’t discovered already, ecco make some of the most comfortable shoes around - just ask our owner Betina, she swears by them! Established in Bredebro in 1963, the family business is incredibly proud of its Scandinavian heritage. Famed for the quality of its design and for its leather - produced at its own tanneries across the world - these are simple, stylish shoes, built to last.
Ecco, St Davids Centre, Cardiff, CF10 2DP
Flying Tiger (formerly just plain old Tiger)
A new-ish arrival to Cardiff, but a long standing favourite back home. Just because the goods are smaller and cheaper doesn’t mean they can’t be well designed, so its a great place to discover all manner of handy new products, all delivered with a dose of Danish style. Along with our own pastries, these are probably the most accessible Danish design in the Cardiff! You’ll find them in the centre of town (and also at six other locations in Wales).
Flying Tiger, St Davids Centre, Cardiff, CF10 2DP
Bang & Olufsen
There’s design and innovation, and then there’s B&O. To say their products are crafted would be a real understatement. When two young engineers, Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen established the company in 1925, they set off on a journey that sought to combine artistry with engineering, first with sound, and today with vision and multimedia too. Safe to say they succeeded, and are now on everyone's ultimate wish-list. Today, you’ll find them in Cardiff's beautiful Morgan Arcade.
Bang & Olufsen, 12 Morgan Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1AF
So, just a flavour of a few Danish companies here in Cardiff. We’re proud to be doing our bit for the Dannebrog (you’ll have to look that up!), and take great inspiration from the many Danish companies who've gone before us. Who knows, maybe we can have a history as long and successful as some of these great companies. Something for us to dream about over coffee and a cake.
Last week, Shaun and Betina paid a visit to Denmark. It was an opportunity to spend time with Danish baker Rene at his bakery in Copenhagen, and to take further inspiration from the great tradition of Danish baking.
Rene has been a great source of knowledge and support during Betina’s early research and she had spent several days - and nights - working with Rene and his bakery team as she developed her plans for Brød in Cardiff. For Shaun, on his first visit to Denmark - it was a chance to experience first hand the passion the Danes have for their unique breads and pastries.
Shaun said of his working visit, “it was great to spend time Rene and his team and fantastic to see how the baking tradition is such a central part of Danish life - it certainly made me proud to be part of bringing a little of that to Cardiff.”
Betina added, “I first met Rene in the early days of planning the Brød project. From our very first meeting, he's been very generous with his support and advice - and really interested in how we’ve got on. It was great to be back there for a few days - and to be inspired by his work once again. The visit was also an opportunity to explore some new product ideas for the bakery here in Cardiff. We’re really looking forward to introducing some of these in the coming weeks.”
