The Kandy Bar
 | |
 2018 photograph of the exterior of the original Kandy Bar location in Saltcoats | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Food |
| Founded | 1929 |
Number of locations | 4 locations (2019) |
| Key people | Stephen McAllister |
| Products |
|
| Owner | Stephen and Rona McAllister |
Number of employees | 89 (2024) |
| Website | facebook |
The Kandy Bar, also known as The Kandy Bar Bakery, is a Scottish bakery chain. It was founded in 1929 in Saltcoats by the McAllister family. It specialises in sweet and savoury products such as Scotch pies, doughnuts, apple tarts, and sausage rolls. The Kandy Bar has won multiple awards, including being the World Champion Scotch Pie three times in 2014, 2016, and 2024.
History
[edit]The Kandy Bar was founded in 1929 in Saltcoats[1] by the McAllister family.[2] Stephen McAllister's grandfather originally established it as a bakery, before Stephen McAllister's father made it into a sweet shop that also sold scotch pies.[2] The Kandy Bar was established as a family business in 1962.[3][4] Stephen McAllister is the fourth generation of his family to run the business.[5] McAllister has been the owner since 1991.[2] He also runs the business with his wife, Rona.[6] As of 2024[update], The Kandy Bar has 89 employees.[4] It has locations in Saltcoats, Kilwinning, Stevenston, and West Kilbride.[7] Products include Scotch pies,[8][3] doughnuts,[9] apple tart,[1] and sausage rolls.[10]
In an interview in 2016, The Kandy Bar said that after winning the Scotch Pie World Champion title that year, there was a "natural surge of customers from far afield".[2] In May 2019, The Kandy Bar was donating ten pence for every doughnut sold to The Children's Trust charity for a week.[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Kandy Bar enforced social distancing guidelines at the queue area.[11][12] In 2025, they donated charity-branded cookies to Mary's Meals.[13]
Reception
[edit]The Kandy Bar won at the Scotch Pie Club Awards, being the overall winner in 2014 and 2016, and "Best Football Pie" in 2015.[2] They were the overall winner at the World Champion Scotch Pie three times in 2014, 2016,[8][14] and 2024.[3] At the 2014 World Scotch Pie Championships, The Kandy Bar got a silver award for its apple tart and three bronze awards,[1] as well as a silver award for their scotch pie in 2018.[14]
The Kandy Bar won the Scottish Baker Of The Year title in 2016[15] and 2017, becoming the only bakery to win both the title and the World Champion Scotch Pie in the same year.[14] Paul Fisher of The Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald said "[its] brilliant reputation for freshly baked goodies and are popular with residents from North Ayrshire and beyond."[7]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Saltcoats baker wins World Scotch pie title". BBC News. 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Meet the Pie-ducer: Stephen from Kandy Bar Bakery". Pierate.co.uk. 8 April 2016. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- 1 2 3 Kobzar, Elina (2024-01-24). "Ayrshire bakers win top awards for their popular pies". Daily Record. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- 1 2 Grayston, Murray (2024-01-21). "Kandy Bar's latest World Championship success 'beyond our wildest dreams'". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ↑ "Which Scottish football club sells the best pies?". The Scotsman. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Burns, Cheri (2016-01-13). "Scots couple are crowned World Scotch Pie champions". The Herald. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
- 1 2 Fisher, Paul (2019-03-28). "The Kandy Bar Bakery branches out to Stevenston". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- 1 2 "Kilwinning bakers take top honours at awards". Irvine Times. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- 1 2 Garrett, Rebecca (2019-05-15). "The Kandy Bar is donating to The Children's Trust as part of National Doughnut Week". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ↑ "Kandy Bar are the king of the pies again". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. 2016-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- ↑ Wheeler, Lucy (28 April 2020). "Saltcoats community get its daily bread during COVID from THE KANDY BAR BAKERY". scottishbakers.org. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Thom, Ryan (2020-04-23). "Kandy Bar still open as customers follow social distancing rules". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 2026-09-25.
- ↑ Lindsay, Claire (2025-05-06). "North Ayrshire bakery helps feed hungry kids in the world's poorest communities". Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-20.
- 1 2 3 Grayston, Murray (2022-02-06). "Kandy Bar takes home prizes at World Championship awards". Irvine Times. Retrieved 2026-01-19.
- ↑ "The Kandy Bar of Saltcoats crowned Baker of the Year". Falkirk Herald. 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2026-01-20.