Third generation & Award winning bakers Reid’s of Caithness have been baking biscuits and cakes for over 100 years, thanks to family recipes handed down from their late Grandmother. Son, Donald Reid, began baking his mother’s recipes in 1966 and started the Reid’s bakery business by opening his first shop in Caithness. Two year later he was joined by his wife Joyce and today his son’s Gary and Graeme are now involved in running the company.
Third generation, Reid brothers, Gary and Graeme with some of their great cakes and biscuits
Reid’s have been well recognised for the quality of their bakery products, with number of awards in recent years. Awards from the Guild of Fine Food ‘Great Taste Awards’ and Scottish awards from Highlands and Islands Food and Drink are testimony to the taste and quality of Granny Reid’s recipes.
As well as being sold at their own shop in Caithness, you’ll find the Reid’s wide range of cakes and biscuits being sold the length and breadth of the country.
The brand was also spotted by chef Jamie Oliver and now the company make a range of biscuits for the Jamie Oliver brand.
Recently, I caught up with the third generation, Managing director, Gary Reid and was impressed by the wide range of cakes and sweet and savoury biscuits produced by Reid’s. There’s Crofters Cake, Viking cake and Banoffee cake in the loaf cake range. The Caithness and Tartan ranges have a wide selection to chose from including, Treacle Toffee biscuits, Shortbread, Stem Ginger Oaties, and Honey & Oat bites.
The savoury range has oatcakes and Reid’s own unique ‘Groaties’, small mini oatcakes with a good selection of flavours to chose from and Reid’s very kindly sent me the Deli Packs with the mini oatcakes and groaties to sample.
The delicious savoury range includes, garlic ‘Groaties’, oatcakes with black pepper, oatcakes with rosemary & thyme, oatcakes with butter and smoked oatcakes
Oatcakes are always my savoury biscuit of choice. Mid afternoon, as an alternative to cake or sweet biscuits, I tend to snack on dry oatcakes and found Reid’s were ideal for that. The texture was good, not dry, but a nice crisp crumbly texture and natural tasting flavours. If I feel the need for a sweet treat then some lemon curd on an oatcake usually does the trick.
Like a good quality oatcake should be, they were delicious and complementary to the flavours of a variety of cheeses, pates and charcuterie. The small size, makes them ideal for cheese boards, buffets and lunch boxes, particularly for kids as a nice healthy snack, perhaps served with hummus
My favourite was the Rosemary and Thyme, with a subtle herby flavour and delicious with a nice strong cheddar. I’d definitely recommend the Reid’s savoury range and they’ve earned their place on my future cheeseboards, snack list and also for including in my food gift baskets.
The ‘Groaties’ & mini oatcakes are ideal with cheese and other savoury food.