McGhee’s Bakery has released a collection of archive images to mark its 90th anniversary, charting its journey from a small family bakery in Maryhill to one of Scotland’s biggest brands.
Founded by Dugald McGhee in Glasgow in 1936, the bakery began with a simple ambition to feed its local community with fresh, affordable baking. Ninety years on, McGhee’s remains family-run, in the hands of the third and fourth generation, producing many of Scotland’s best-loved staples including morning rolls, tattie scones, doughnuts and its iconic empire biscuit.
Across nine decades, McGhee’s estimates it has baked around 145 million empire biscuits. If laid end to end, that volume would stretch for more than 10,000 kilometres, equivalent to the distance from Glasgow to Tokyo.
The archive images show how the business has evolved over time, from a wee shop and wartime production to purpose-built bakeries, modern distribution and nationwide reach. Alongside empire biscuits, the bakery estimates it has also produced 237,837,600 pineapple tarts and a staggering 369,460,000 packets of potato scones since opening its doors.
Founded in 1936, McGhee’s Bakery is a family-run Scottish bakery now led by the third fourth generation of the McGhee family. In 2025, it was named Scotland’s second most chosen food and drink brand in the Worldpanel by Numerator Scotland Brand Footprint report.
McGhee’s frst shop opened on Oran Street in Maryhill in 1937, a year after Dugald McGhee, a van salesman, opened a small bakery on nearby Springbank Street.
Dugald’s sons – Jim, Calder, Douglas, and Gavin – joined the family business and became directors in 1954. McGhee’s products first appeared in supermarkets in 1998 and the company moved to a purpose built home at Port Dundas in 2005.
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1. McGhee's Bakery
Gordon McGhee, director at McGhee’s Bakery, said: “Looking back through the archive, you realise how much has changed, from the buildings and the scale of the operation to the technology we use today. What has not changed is the pride taken in doing what we do well." | Supplied
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2. McGhee's Bakery
“When my grandfather opened the first shop in Maryhill in 1936, he simply wanted to feed the local community. To see that grow into millions of products enjoyed across Scotland, including around 145 million empire biscuits, is something the whole family is incredibly proud of.” | McGhee's Bakery
3. McGhee's Bakery
Today, McGhee’s operates from its Port Dundas bakery in Glasgow, supplying homes, cafés and shops with many of its best-known baked goods. | McGhee's Bakery
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4. McGhee's Bakery
Aisling McGhee, commercial director at McGhee’s Bakery said: “For our family, these photographs represent much more than business milestones. They capture the people, the early mornings and the consistency that have defined McGhee’s for 90 years." | McGhee's Bakery