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Continental Crums in the Press
Express & Echo 30/01/2010 Birgit finds her niche with a taste of home
Back in Germany, where the couple are from, Birgit was a
self-confessed 'workaholic'.
"I spent years training in banking achieving a host of
qualifications," she said. "I would think nothing of working 10 hours a
day for six days a week. I was really driven and got great feedback."
But in 2003 Birgit was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Still in its early stage it was successfully treated with surgery and a
course of radiotherapy. "I was lucky to catch it early," said Birgit. "This meant I didn't
have to undergo chemotherapy, which I was grateful for."The illness did mean that my outlook on life
changed, but not with immediate effect.
"After my breast cancer treatment I went back to work
fairly quickly, I threw myself back into the banking world and fell into
my old habits.
"However, after six months I realised that I had learned
nothing from my cancer experience and decided to take stock and do more
of what I enjoy. I worked less and spent more time gardening, cooking
and socialising with family and friends."
In May 2006 Birgit and Oliver made a life-changing
decision to move to the UK as Oliver got a job at the Met Office. Birgit
used the initial months after her move to learn English and get to know
her local area.
"I fell in love with Devon," revealed Birgit. "I met some
great local people and enjoyed living near the seaside and walking on
Dartmoor. Plus, the climate is great for gardening."
Once she had grasped the language, Birgit found a job as a
customer service advisor in a bank. She said: "I soon found out that
banking just wasn't my cup of tea any more — probably, because it's just
about money these days, rather than the customer."
Fortunately, Birgit managed to find an office-based
position using her German language skills.
"As a hobby I spent each weekend baking cakes and
biscuits which I've shared with my partner, our neighbours and our
colleagues at work on a Monday morning," said Birgit. "People would
often say to me that my cakes were really good and that I shouldn't sit
in an office wasting my skills. It made me realise that you have to do
what you enjoy in life."
Birgit used all her own recipes to launch Continental
Crumbs, an authentic range of cakes, biscuits and German breads.
The menu at Continental Crumbs includes, German
multi-grain, rye, Mediterranean bread loafs and rolls, German pretzels,
Russian cheesecake, German red wine cake, cup cakes and a range of
sweet and savoury biscuits. "Apart from my cupcakes, I haven't seen
anything else similar to the sort of products I make anywhere in the
region," said Birgit. "I get ideas from my friends and Oliver is my
guinea pig.
"For example I was sitting with some friends in the
garden this summer enjoying some wine, when they suggested that I should
make chilli and cheese savoury shortbread. I successfully did this and
now I also do cheese and garlic."
Ingredients are sourced from Devon wherever possible.
"I visit local farmers' markets for eggs and fruit. But I
have to get some ingredients from Germany such as a special type of
lemon zest for the lemon biscuits. I like to make sure all my products
taste special, which means finding the best-quality ingredients."
Unfortunately, Oliver has since been made redundant from
his job at the Met Office so now works on the admin side of Continental
Crumbs. Birgit still works part-time in her office job, while Oliver
delivers the goods all around Devon.
Continental Crumbs is stocked in a variety of local
outlets including The Orange Elephant Farm Shop, in Kennford, Powderham
Castle Country Store, the Ridge Cafe in Haldon Forest and Dart's Farm,
near Topsham. Customers can also place orders on line. Birgit has high
hopes for the future, She said: "It would be great to expand the
business and sell the bread in more places in Exeter. We did a taster
day stall in Exeter a few months ago and the bread went down really
well.
"An 84-year-old German lady came with her daughter, she
had moved over here after the Second World War when she married an
English man. She told that she always had to go back to Germany to find
German bread and was so happy to finally be able to get in Devon. The
smile on her face really fulfilled me and that is what it is all about."  © Continental Crumbs 2010 |