From fingers and rounds in Sydney to opals and squares in New York City, right now somewhere in the world it’s more than likely that someone is buying Campbells shortbread or fudge. This might be as a thank you gesture or a greetings gift, a birthday present or a Christmas stocking filler. Equally, it could be a bulk buy for the perfect accompaniment to tea or coffee at an international conference. We are a leader in gift and seasonal lines of quality Scottish shortbread and fudge, our cheery merchandise well known to retailers from Hong Kong to Helsinki.
A far cry from when Donald Campbell baked his first tray on his cottage range in the Highland village of Callander in 1830. A long way too: for over 100 years Campbells horse-drawn carts, followed in due course by vans, delivered delicious tray bakes within a small radius of the village. Then, in the 1960s, came the first real boom in tourism and Callander, in the heart of the quintessentially Scottish Trossachs, found itself a must-see tourist destination. Gift packed shortbread became an obvious development for the locals’ favourite bakery.
By the 1970s, Scotland’s food industry was by and large moving away from craft to factory production as manufacturers realised the enormous worldwide appetite for premium Scottish produce. Shortbread has become as iconic as Scotch Whisky and often the two go hand in hand.
From humble beginnings as a small village bakery, we are now in our 194th year and are run by the seventh generation of Donald’s family. We still only use the finest ingredients money can buy. Our baking still feels as if it’s fresh out of the oven. But nowadays our range of unique and original packaging is the conversation piece of international trade, not just on the main street of the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’.
Bakery production aside, very little has changed since Campbells first shortbread in 1830. It’s still baked in the traditional way using the finest ingredients. Whether it’s Shortbread or Butter Cookies, Campbells baking is ideal for any occasion from morning coffee to afternoon tea to on top of the mountain with a handy thermos. And, of course, it’s the perfect accompaniment to an after dinner dram. Or brandy if you must! However the cookie crumbles, Campbells always brings a smile to people’s faces.
Campbells Shortbread, North Ancaster Square, Callander, Perthshire, FK17 8BL, Scotland.