The Bread & Butter Project, founded in 2013, is Australia’s first social enterprise bakery, established by renowned Sydney chef and baker Paul Allam, and his business partner, celebrated pastry chef and baker David McGuinness of Bourke Street Bakery. This ground breaking initiative channels 100% of its profits into providing training and employment pathways for refugees and asylum seekers aspiring to become professional bakers.

The inception of The Bread & Butter Project was inspired by a transformative visit Paul Allam and his wife Jessica Grynberg made to an orphanage on the Thai-Burmese border. There, they taught a group of refugee women how to bake bread, establishing a social business that continues to support the women and the orphanage. Motivated by this experience, Paul Allam and David McGuinness decided to leverage their expertise and resources from Bourke Street Bakery to support a similar cause in Australia. They donated what could have been a lucrative wholesale business opportunity, along with their expert baking recipes and extensive support, to kickstart The Bread & Butter Project.

The Project offers a comprehensive 6 to 8 month traineeship for its participants. This program includes on-the-job training at the bakery, TAFE accreditation, English language tutoring, and job readiness support. Beyond training, The Bread & Butter Project helps its graduates secure employment with like-minded organizations that value diversity and empowerment in the workplace. This approach not only enhances the trainees’ prospects for successful resettlement and employment but also fosters a strong sense of belonging within the Australian community. The program’s impact is profound, promoting lasting intergenerational benefits.

Operated as a public company, The Bread & Butter Project is governed by a voluntary board of directors and functions as both a commercial business and a registered charity with DGR (Deductible Gift Recipient) status. The enterprise’s unique model allows for 100% of profits to be reinvested into creating opportunities and alleviating poverty among its trainees. Financially, bread and pastry sales generate 90% of the operational and training costs, while the remaining 10% is covered through donations. Additionally, the Project benefits significantly from the support of volunteers and pro bono assistance.

Through innovative social entrepreneurship, The Bread & Butter Project has grown into a thriving, independently run enterprise that significantly contributes to the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia, demonstrating the powerful role of social businesses in community development and integration.