A Legacy of Dads: Five Generations of Baking
As Father’s Day approaches on 15th June, we’ve been reflecting on the incredible role that Dads have played – not just in our lives, but at the heart and history of Fisher & Donaldson. We’re proud to say that we’re now the fifth generation of our family to run the bakery and with Father’s Day approaching, we wanted to celebrate some of the men who helped build it.
We are Jade, Chloe, and Ben, the siblings behind the scenes and the fifth generation at the helm – and we were lucky enough to work closely with our dad Eric, and our uncle Sandy, who ran the business for over 30 years before us. Their passion, humour and serious work ethic shaped the bakery we run today. Together, they modernised the business, added tea rooms to our shops, created our purpose-built bakery in Cupar, and – perhaps most famously – introduced the one and only Fudge Doughnut to our product range – what a legacy!
But it goes back even further than that.
Our grandfather Grant Milne (third generation) was a true original. A baker, an entrepreneur, and even a pilot! He was always dreaming up new ideas – from expanding the business into Dundee and St Andrews; to regularly flying to Europe in his small plane to bring back the finest Belgian chocolate; to listening to our grandmother Audrey when she requested a coffee choux bun, which became one of our bestselling cakes: the Coffee Tower. Thank you, Grandma Audrey!
Before Grant, came our great-grandfather, Alexander Milne, a skilled and celebrated award-winning confectioner. He was orphaned after the war and adopted by his uncles, Willie Fisher and Davie Donaldson, who started Fisher & Donaldson together back in 1919. Alexander went on to take the reins from them, and the rest, as they say, is history – or in our case, five generations of flour-dusted aprons, early mornings and long nights!
And who knows what the next chapter will bring…
On Saturdays, you’ll now find Ben’s son, Rory, working in the business, learning some of our trade. One of our favourite photos is of Rory aged just 3, proudly wearing his little white baker’s coat, looking up to his Grandad Eric in the bakery stores. Perhaps he’ll be part of a future Father’s Day story we can share!
To mark the occasion, we’ve put together a couple of really special gifts on our new online gift shop, filled with delicious Scottish Baking, perfect for Father’s Day. Whether your dad loves a buttery shortbread, Belgian hot chocolate, or a delicious handmade chocolate brownie, we’ve got something he’ll love – and we deliver UK-wide, so you can share the love wherever he is.
Browse our Father’s Day Gift Collection – and treat your dad with a gift baked and sent with love.
To all the Dads, Grandads, Uncles, and father figures – including ours – thank you for everything. We wouldn’t be here without you.
With love,
Jade, Chloe & Ben
Fifth Generation, Fisher & Donaldson
