«Pan de aquí, horno y tradición» (Bread from Here, Oven and Tradition), a brand that is very much ours

The collective brand ‘Bread from here, oven and tradition’ identifies the shops elaborating traditional bread, those that really are bakeries with an oven, from Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, and offer the varieties of peasant bread (white or brown), xeixa bread, llonguet, oil bread roll, magraneta, vienna, oil biscuit, Ciutadella coca or strong biscuits from Ibiza.

The bread from here, from the Balearic Islands, has a millenary history and a singular tradition that identifies us as a land of eating habits, where bread is the axis of the most popular food: bread with oil, bread with sobrassada, oil biscuits, pancuit (garlic soup), soups, and many others.

One of the brand´s main objectives is to highlight the value of these breads, their attributes, their versatility, their benefits and to encourage responsible consumption in a globalised market. The industrialisation of pre-baked and frozen ‘bread’ and its commercialisation from non-specialised establishments is causing a loss of the prominence of traditional oven-baked bread and the social link between the baker and the consumer. Other objectives justifying the creation of the ‘Bread from here’ brand and the actions of the Balearic Islands Regional Development Agency (ADR Baleares), together with the Bakers and Confectioners Association of the Balearic Islands are to preserve the gastronomic heritage linked to our customs, celebrations and festivities, to dignify the baker’s trade in the gastronomic and social sphere, to encourage professional training in baking and pastry making and generational renewal, and to raise awareness of the values of artisan bread, fresh, natural and made here. This and more is necessary for the future of this subsector that forms part of our economy.

Until a few months ago, I had the pleasure of being the manager of the Association, a job to which I dedicated myself body and soul for almost forty years, until my retirement. It has been a rewarding job because of what it means to me to promote the world of bakery, and also sometimes hard, I won’t lie to you, especially when you see the ovens of a lifetime close down due to a lack of generational replacement.

From the beginning, this world of bakery, which I was still unfamiliar with, was a challenge for me, although I ended up appreciating and esteeming this activity. During all these years, I have met people who are very committed to a job well done. I have also taken with me great friends who will be with me forever and with whom I have experienced a lot of anecdotes. Finally, I would also like to acknowledge all those bakers who, with their daily dedication, bring us freshly baked bread and traditional pastries that we can find throughout the year, as well as the typical products that are made for special occasions and festivities that make us not forget our traditions.

It only remains for me to thank all of you who have helped me to make the Association of Bakers and Confectioners possible during all this time.

Pep Magraner has managed the of Bakers and Confectioners Association of the Balearic Islands for 39 years.