Body Of The Year Bakery

About Body Of The Year Bakery

Body Of The Year Bakery is a dedicated Dunedin craft bakery situated in the Strathallan Industrial Estate in South Dunedin. After supplying local Otago cafes, restaurants, and food establishments with naturally leavened sourdough for over six years, the bakery opened its direct retail counter to the public.

Every loaf and pastry is naturally leavened, slow-fermented, and baked fresh on-site every single morning. The bakery prioritises grain quality, working with locally sourced flour and regional baking ingredients whenever possible to support local growers, reduce food miles, and create bread with exceptional body, balance, and flavour.

Located right beside Common Ground Espresso, visitors can drop by early to pick up warm loaves, baguettes, focaccia, and an evolving selection of sweet and savoury pastries straight out of the oven.

Body Of The Year Bakery: Naturally Leavened Sourdough in South Dunedin

For years, bread lovers across Dunedin and Otago enjoyed Body Of The Year Bakery's naturally leavened sourdough without necessarily knowing the workshop behind it. Having built an enduring reputation by supplying top local cafes, restaurants, and food establishments for over six years, the bakery eventually opened its own dedicated retail spot inside the Strathallan Industrial Estate in South Dunedin.

From early morning, the quiet industrial hub fills with the aroma of freshly baked loaves and laminated doughs. Everything offered at Body Of The Year Bakery is baked on-site in small batches, prioritising digestive wellness, flavor development, and traditional baking integrity.

The Philosophy of Slow Fermentation and Local Grain

At Body Of The Year, the founding principle is simple: good bread starts with good grain and should be genuinely better for the human body. Rather than relying on commercial additives or rushed production schedules, the bakers rely on long, natural fermentation.

This slow process breaks down gluten networks, deepens overall flavor, and significantly improves digestibility. Complementing this natural approach is a commitment to locally sourced flour and regional baking ingredients whenever possible, championing South Island grain producers while keeping food miles low.

From Core Batches to Imaginative Weekly Loaves

Visitors stepping up to the counter will find staple naturally leavened sourdough loaves alongside crisp baguettes and olive oil-rich focaccia. Sweet and savoury pastries round out the cabinet, providing a quick morning treat.

Beyond the daily mainstays, the bakery has earned a devoted following for its creative seasonal creations and special loaves. Inventive bakes include a deconstructed hummus loaf incorporating spelt flour, chickpea flour, toasted cumin, and roasted garlic; rich dark rye packed with dried figs and crystallised ginger; an umami-laden miso, wakame, and sesame sourdough; and the hearty roasted onion, cheese, and sage loaf.

Visiting the Bakery on Strathallan Street

The bakery operates out of Unit 10 at 4 Strathallan Street, situated right beside coffee roaster Common Ground Espresso. Because every single item is baked fresh each morning in small batches, items can sell out quickly on busy mornings. Pairing a warm loaf or morning pastry with a flat white from next door has rapidly become a South Dunedin staple routine.

Signature items

• Fresh Sourdough Loaf
• Deconstructed Hummus Loaf
• Roasted Onions, Cheese & Sage
• Miso, Wakame & Sesame Loaf
• Artisan Sourdough Focaccia
• Fresh Morning Pastries

Menu

Pastries

• Sweet Pastries — Handmade pastries freshly baked every morning on-site.
• Savoury Pastries — Fresh flaky morning pastries featuring savoury fillings.

Sourdough Breads

• Fresh Sourdough Loaves — Naturally leavened daily loaves made using locally sourced flour and slow fermentation.
• Baguettes — Crisp, naturally leavened artisanal sourdough baguettes baked fresh daily.
• Focaccia — Freshly baked, naturally leavened artisan focaccia with a tender crumb.
• Sprouted Grain Sourdough — Nutritious specialty loaf packed with a variety of sprouted grains.
• Pumpkin Sourdough Loaf — Seasonal sourdough loaf crafted with real pumpkin.
• Deconstructed Hummus Loaf — Specialty loaf with roasted garlic, toasted cumin, sesame seeds, chickpea flour, and spelt flour.
• Fruits and Roots Loaf — Spiced carrot and sultana sourdough loaf, offering a unique take on fruit bread.
• Miso, Wakame and Sesame Loaf — Umami-rich sourdough loaf flavoured with savoury miso, sea wakame, and toasted sesame.
• Dark Rye with Dried Figs and Crystallised Ginger — Hearty winter rye loaf studded with sweet dried figs and warming crystallised ginger.
• Roasted Onions, Cheese and Sage Sourdough — Savoury specialty sourdough loaf packed with sweet roasted onions, cheese, and fresh sage.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Body Of The Year Bakery located?

The bakery is located at Unit 10, 4 Strathallan Street in South Dunedin's Strathallan Industrial Estate, right next door to Common Ground Espresso.

What are the bakery's opening hours?

Body Of The Year Bakery is open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and Saturday morning from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. They are closed on Sundays.

What kinds of baked goods are available?

They bake naturally leavened sourdough loaves, baguettes, focaccia, specialty weekly loaves, and a rotating range of sweet and savoury pastries.

Does the bakery use locally sourced ingredients?

Yes, the bakery uses locally sourced flour and local ingredients wherever possible to support regional growers and reduce food miles.

Can I get coffee at the bakery?

While the bakery focuses on bread and pastries, Common Ground Espresso is located right next door in the same complex.

Do items sell out early?

Yes, because all breads and pastries are baked in small batches fresh each morning, popular items can sell out before closing time.

Tips

• {"body":"Everything is baked fresh on-site in small batches each morning and popular items can sell out well before closing.","title":"Come early for the best pastry and loaf selection"}
• {"body":"Common Ground Espresso is situated right beside Unit 10, making it easy to pick up fresh coffee alongside your morning pastry or loaf.","title":"Grab a coffee next door"}
• {"body":"The bakery regularly creates inventive specialty loaves featuring combinations like roasted onion and cheese, miso and wakame, or spiced fruit.","title":"Watch for special rotating loaves"}

Good to know

• {"dietary":"Naturally leavened, long-fermented sourdough made with locally sourced flour."}