Kosher provision for the Glasgow community is to be extended with a supervised in-house bakery at a Whole Foods Market branch opening next month in Giffnock.

The bakery will come under the supervision of the West of Scotland Kashrut Commission, whose Rabbi Moshe Rubin was delighted by the co-operation of the natural and organic grocer.

“They’ve been very good to work with,” he said. “They have gone out of their way to do everything properly.”
Store team-leader Darren Campbell promised Glasgow Jews a wide choice of breads “baked fresh every day by our skilled team”.

The Burnfield Road store will be opposite the kosher Mark’s Deli, which sells kosher loaves from the local Newlands bakery.

Owner Mark Cohen did not see Whole Foods as a threat, pointing out: “There’s going to be a busy supermarket on what was a derelict site — that can only be good news. It’s a free market and competition is a good thing.”

He is also keeping the kashrut authority busy by opening a café at the deli. Although his locally renowned salt beef sandwiches will take centre stage, vegetarians will not be neglected.

“I’ve just come back from Israel where I investigated how to make good falafel — crunchy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside. You can’t beat a freshly made falafel.”