The Grumpy Baker was created in 2002 by Michael Cthurmer Owner-operator as a Café/Retail Bakery in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. Finding a niche in the market for good, old fashioned bread, particularly artisan sourdough that was more “cheesy” and less of a “vinegar” starter, he set out to conquer the bread world.

At the beginning, all of the baking was carried out in small kitchen to the rear of the shop and as the smell of freshly baked bread wafted down Oxford Street, The Grumpy Baker soon attracted a regular clientele who enjoyed their rustic, handmade gourmet bread free of preservatives and additives.

Within three years, The Grumpy Baker had outgrown its current premises, expanded into the wholesale market (with a repertoire of clients ranging from top restaurants, cruise ships, hotels, coffee shops and catering companies), and had moved into a commercial factory in Leichhardt and received our HACCP accreditation. In 2021 we decided to close the wholesale side of the business to focus on expanding our own locations.

The bread repertoire now includes fig and walnut sourdough (made with lashings of butter and honey), organic carrot loaf, soy linseed and a large range of pies, pastries and some gf options.

The range of breads is now sold at our numerous retail outlets throughout Sydney and we are committed to providing our customers with high quality products that really have been lovingly hand-crafted.

And as for the name…….well you would be grumpy too if you had to get up at the crack of dawn every day!