A couple who gave up a busy cafe to spend more time with their family are back in the kitchen baking their trademark cakes.
Gill and Weller de Oliveira, who ran the Olive Tree Cafe for 12 years at Logie Steading, left in February to decide on their next move.
The couple ran the popular eatery together, but with three children at home, the cafe open seven days a week, and often working late on the next day’s bakes, they wanted to re-evaluate their work-life balance.
Now they have converted their garage in Mannachie Brae and started up an online bakery business, keeping the ‘olive tree’ name that had built such a good reputation at Logie.
Gill said: “We decided to give up the The Olive Tree Cafe to achieve a better family life balance.
“We were both working six days a week, alternating a day off at the weekend to look after our three children. Our days were extremely long as we did all the baking ourselves which we had to do at night after the cafe closed. Very late nights were a regular!
“We’re now continuing our passion with a baking business from home.
Their specialities are tray bakes, scones, sponges, loaves, tarts and shortbread. They’ll deliver door-to-door up to 20 mile from Forres, and are looking to forge links with other outlets, such as coffee shops.
Gill added: “We offer complete freshness as our cakes are made to order. We use the best quality of ingredients that we can find.”
The Olive Tree Cafe closed in February this year and was renamed The Cafe at Logie Steading under ownership of Mags and Robbie Cairns.
The couple were keen to continue their 12-year-old brand in their new name, not only because their customers will recognise their new business as being theirs, but it has a personal meaning too. Gill and Weller’s surname Oliveira is Portuguese for ‘olive tree’.
Order online at theolivetreekitchen.co.uk.
Excellent so proud of you guys
You work so hard and deserve continued success with your new business. Your excellent reputation for beautiful cakes and bakes will without doubt follow you. So happy for you.