A great loaf of bread... one crumb at a time

Lesley along with her husband Roger are founders of Bakers Delight, a 670 plus bakery franchise

network across four countries; Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. In Canada and

the United States it is branded as COBS Bread. Bakers Delight started from one bakery in Hawthorn,

Melbourne May 1980.

Lesley is incredibly proud of Bakers Delight. It operates on a franchise model and has enabled many

to be business owners who under other circumstances may not have been. The pattern started very

early whereby a bakery team member was given the opportunity to develop themselves and so

become a franchisee. This pattern of mentorship, staff development and ultimate bakery / business

ownership is a core strength fostering entrepreneurship albeit under a franchise umbrella.

Lesley believes that small businesses, family businesses are the backbone of thriving communities.

The franchisor (the Gillespie family, her children are now the CEOs) is a family business, the vast

majority of bakeries are family businesses, and Bakers Delights customers are by and large family

members.