A traditional Black Country bakery has become a local sensation, with customers queuing for its signature 'burnt top cobs' and sausage rolls that undercut high street giant Greggs.
From Police Despatcher to Bakery Boss
Bake My Day was founded by former police despatcher Nathan Hadley, 33. After running a jacket potato shop, he sold it to buy the former Sutton Bakery in Great Bridge, Tipton, which opened in 2022. His mother, ex-Labour councillor Joanne Hadley, 63, lent her business expertise before stepping back due to a non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis.
Nathan, who has three children with his confectioner partner Emily Payton, renovated the premises with a clear goal: to sell fresh goods at a fair price. "Local customers wanted freshly baked bread, old school cakes, burned cobs," he explained.
The Secret Behind the Success
The bakery's team of five, led by head baker Luke Shuker, starts work at 3am. Queues often form by 8am for the 9am opening, with the aim to sell out by the 3pm close. Any leftover bread is fed to local horses.
Their daily output is impressive: around 2,000 small cobs, 400 large cobs, and 14 large tins of bread, plus granary on Tuesdays. The star seller is the '24 carat golden burnt' top cob, where precision is key. "If you go five grams over or four grams under, the cob is not the same size," Nathan revealed.
Another huge hit is their six-inch sausage roll, priced at just £1. They sell 120 a day. "The outer layer crust is softer, the meat is tastier because the sausage is flavoured and prepped and pipped by hand," said Nathan. Their deli counter, featuring meat from a Leicester farm, and cakes like giant chocolate eclairs and lemon iced buns also draw rave reviews.
Phenomenal Growth and Customer Praise
The Great Bridge shop's runaway success led to a second branch opening in Black Heath in March 2025, and a third is set to launch in Oldbury in mid-February. The business has created nearly 20 jobs.
Customer feedback is glowing. Karen Hill from Wednesbury buys 40-100 cobs for a club, praising the freshness and price. Maxine Ebanks from West Bromwich loves the "family vibe," while Richard Hale says, "You get proper burnt cobs... it's good value and I would rather come here."
Nathan summed up the excitement for the Oldbury launch: "They didn't want another barbers, or nail shop and are so excited that a fresh and traditional bakery is coming to the Oldbury High Street."
