Cakes from the Lakes, Threlkeld goes from strength to strength

Laura and Steve Johnson, own Cakes from the Lakes, a family-run company run from a bakery based in Threlkeld, near Keswick.

The company started out of coffee shop in Keswick called Laura in the Lakes, with the couple making traybakes, cakes and many other tasty treats in store.

After owning the coffee shop for 13 years, the Johnsons sold the shop on Main Street in Keswick and decided to grow the production side of the business.

Some of the fantastic tasty treats on offer. (Image: NQ staff)

Last Christmas, Laura in the Lakes goods were even sold in The House of Lords gift shop in Westminster Palace, London, with the business being proud to fly the flag for Cumbria.

Talking about the business, Laura said: “We went into the bakery just as the pandemic hit, we sat and looked at it all shiny and new and then we continued the business, it’s just gone from strength to strength in the last year.

“It’s only during the last year that I have actually worked in the business full time, so it was a full on years going to various events around the country.

“We have just been promoting the Lake District really.”

The couple are pleased with the expansion of their business, saying the transformation has allowed for more creativity and new ideas in the business.

Laura said: “It’s allowed us to be more creative, get out there and see the customers more, work with a lot of people on different projects and do a few bespoke things for a few special customers.

"We have got a list of things in the pipeline of people who want us to make things for them using their ingredients and we’ve got some exciting projects coming more.”

Some of the treat boxes the company sell to customers. (Image: NQ staff)

The couple are ‘really excited’ about a number of big ‘top secret’ projects in the pipeline for Christmas time.

“For me now, just being allowed to use my creativity and what I have learnt, you never stop learning and design is changing all the time, packaging is changing all the time, there is new equipment we can buy to help us towards making things.”

And it’s all about promoting the Lake District, with the owners determined to fly the flag for the county.

Laura said: “In the last year we have had huge growth and we spent a lot of time out of the county last year, but this year we are going to stay local there is a lot of people that want looking after on our doorstep and we feel we need to be here really.

“Our branding is smart; I am so delighted with our branding that a lot of people see it here there and everywhere and think ‘Oh that’s that lovely business’ and that’s a Carlisle designer who has done that.”