Central Jamaica's Best Kept Secret Central Jamaica’s best kept secret is now being revealed to the rest of the world: Just ask anyone who grew up in Central Jamaica about the hot coca bread at Mr. Christie’s Bakery or the famous Christmas Fancy Bread that is a must have for the locals as well as visitors. All will tell you about the many happy memories that are connected to the products from The People’s Favourite Bakery. They will also tell you that they are willing to drive for miles just to experience the warm comforting feeling that they get when eating a product from the People’s Favourite Bakery.
The People’s Favourite Bakery, one of Jamaica’s original country bakeries, was founded by Walter Christie over seventy-five years ago at its present location in Four Paths, Clarendon. In 1987 the husband and wife team of William and Pauline Ferron bought the business from Mr. Christie and formed the People’s Favourite Baking Company Limited. When the Ferrons’ took over the bakery, products were baked in a small brick oven, mixing was done by hand and the only mechanical piece of equipment in use at the bakery was a small dough-break. However, while production was manual, quality was never compromised and the Ferrons’ have made it their top priority to maintain the quality and authenticity of the products as they went about modernizing the business.
Under the current management The People’s Favourite Baking Company has been upgraded with significant investment in, the plant, the equipment, the delivery fleet and most importantly the company’s personnel who form the heart and soul of the organization. In November 2008 People’s Favourite Baking Co. Ltd. acquired Whitfield Bakery and Pastries, a brand which is locally and internationally recognized for its Easter Buns and Ginger Bullas. Since the Whitfield acquisition, management has intensified its plant modernization program resulting in the company’s facilities attaining international standards for sanitation and good manufacturing practices.
The intensive staff training in quality assurance and customer friendly “country” service, along with the high level of investment in modernization has made The People’s Favourite Baking Co. Ltd., now trading as Whitfield Bakery, one of the most modern, well equipped and well run small bakeries operating in Jamaica. More importantly however, is the fact that all this has been accomplished while still maintaining the genuine authenticity, charm and old world goodness of Mr. Christie’s Country Bakery.
The management of the People’s Favourite Baking Co. Ltd. has also recognized and responded to lifestyle changes that are trending towards healthier and more nutritional products. The bakery now offers alongside its traditional standards, new products that support a healthy lifestyle.
Today, if you were to ask, our loyal customers will tell you that they are still willing to drive for miles just to have our products and to share a joke with our friendly staff. They willingly share endearing memories that have helped to create very strong connections with the bakery. They will readily tell you that the secret to it all is the comfort and convenience that the bakery offers, which brings us to where we are today, ready to reveal Central Jamaica’s best kept secret to the rest of the world.