15/10/2026
❤️ A NEW CHAPTER BEGINS – THE KANDY BAR ❤️
Today, we are delighted to announce the sale of The Kandy Bar, our bakery, four shops and café, with the official handover taking place on Thursday 22nd October.
The business will be handed over to Craig McPhie and his wife, Lesley and we wish them every success as they begin this exciting new chapter.
The business was marketed for sale in February this year, and we were overwhelmed by the level of interest. By the closing date, we had received six amazing offers.
Although we had several strong offers to consider, we did not simply choose the highest offer. We chose the offer that we felt was the right fit for The Kandy Bar.
Craig comes from a family bakery business and brings with him a wealth of knowledge, experience and understanding of the bakery industry. We feel confident that he and Lesley appreciate the hard work, dedication and passion that go into running a business like ours, along with the importance of our fantastic team and loyal customers. This gave us real confidence that we were handing over the business to the right people to take it forward into the future.
THE STORY BEHIND THE KANDY BAR ❤️ (the short version)
The Kandy Bar began its journey as a small sweet shop in Hamilton Street, Saltcoats, started by Stephen’s Mum, Jean McAllister, with the help of his Gran Sarah. Stephen’s Dad, John McAllister, who was a baker, then introduced bakery products, and from those humble beginnings, the business grew into what it is today.
We are so thankful to have been able to carry forward the legacy that Jean, John and Gran started and to build upon the foundations they created with so much hard work and dedication.
What began as a small family sweet shop has grown into a highly successful bakery business, with four shops and a café, employing 90 people and earning a reputation within the bakery industry as one of the best.
We are incredibly proud of how far the business has come. We hope Jean, John and Gran would be proud to see what their original little shop has become. Their legacy will always be at the heart of The Kandy Bar, and we feel privileged to have played our part in its story.
AN EMOTIONAL TIME FOR EVERYONE ❤️
This is an incredibly emotional time for everyone concerned. The Kandy Bar is so much more than buildings, shops and a bakery. It represents generations of family history, years of hard work, friendships, memories and the dedication of so many wonderful people.
There are naturally mixed emotions as we prepare to hand over something that has been such a huge part of our lives. We know this change will mean a great deal to our staff, customers, suppliers, tradespeople, family and everyone who has been connected to the business over the years.
One of the most important things for us to share is that all 90 jobs are safe and protected. Our team has always been at the heart of everything we do, and we are delighted that they can continue doing what they do best under the new ownership.
To our wonderful staff, loyal customers, suppliers, friends, tradespeople and family, we want to say a heartfelt THANK YOU. Your support, loyalty and encouragement have meant more to us than words can express. Every single person who has been part of this journey has helped make The Kandy Bar what it is today.
As we approach this next chapter, we do so with immense pride, gratitude and, of course, a few tears. We are proud of what we have achieved, proud of the reputation we have built and, above all, proud of the people who have helped us along the way.
We wish Craig and Lesley every success as they take The Kandy Bar forward, and we hope they enjoy building upon the wonderful legacy that began with Jean, John and Gran all those years ago.
90 jobs safe and protected. A family legacy continues. Now, it’s time for our next chapter. ❤️
Thank you for being part of our story. We will always look back with enormous pride, love and gratitude.
Stephen & Rona McAllister
x
