Companio Bakery

Companio Bakery is an artisan bakery nestled in the hip district of Ancoats within Manchester, specializing in handcrafted sourdough breads, pastries, and Viennoiserie. It makes everything fresh daily on-site to promise quality and authenticity in each single bite. It has developed a strong commitment to traditional baking methods, based on natural ingredients. All these have made it a staple in the local community, through direct sales from its location at Radium Street and through various artisanal outlets across Manchester.

Companio Bakery was founded in 2015 by Russell Goodwin and gained a kind of legendary status for its innovative business model: it sold sourdough from a bike and trailer at Victoria Station. Since coming under new ownership in 2019—by Baneta Yelda, Neil Large, and Phil Pryor—the bakery has furthered its reputation for excellence in its product and community focus. This three-person leadership brought fresh ideas while maintaining the mission of supplying fantastic artisanal baked goods with strong ties to the community.

Baneta Yelda, an Assyrian Iraqi, combines a rich family heritage with baking into the bakery. Since coming to the UK as a refugee, she has pursued a career in artisan baking, achieving an Advanced Diploma from the School of Artisan Food. Her commitment and passion for baking are deeply intertwined with her cultural background and personal journey, which she now shares through the diverse offerings at Companio.

Neil Large shifted from the construction industry into artisan baking as a way of expressing an interest in community service and quality food production. His experiences and ideals regarding sustainable business practices, by and for the community, are crucial elements in molding the ethos of Companio Bakery. This commitment by Neil is further nurtured by his son Sebby, who brings so much joy and drive into his daily work.

As a dedicated advocate for real food, Phil Pryor deeply believes in the Companio mission to respect traditional food production. His investment in the bakery shows his commitment to keeping high standards in artisan baking and helping add to the local food culture.

Companio Bakery has positioned itself as a guardian of real bread, insisting on few and natural ingredients, free from added preservatives. The bakery is committed to real bread for personal health, community health, and the good of the environment. As a matter of fact, it tries to minimize local food miles and contribute to the local economy, while encouraging social contact within the community.