The Humble Scone: The story behind our customer’s favourite
The Timbertrove story starts in the 1980s, when Henry O’Kelly set up a small sawmill in the Dublin Mountains. Manufacturing high quality timber products with locally sourced wood, Henry soon became known as ‘The Shed Man’. Joined by his wife Shirley, Timbertrove built a strong customer base in the construction sector and with landscapers, local authorities and the domestic market. Soon, O’Kelly’s Sawmill had become more than just a sawmill. The business rebranded as Timbertrove, ‘wood products you will treasure for life’. The new brand aligned itself with the company vision to differentiate through innovation design, quality products and craftmanship in addition to superior customer service. Read the full story behind Timbertrove sawmill here.
However, in 2008, disaster struck. The construction sector collapsed which cut half the turnover, the trade accounts and domestic market evaporated overnight. This had a detrimental effect on the business, sales plummeted, and profits quickly turned to losses.
Determined to keep fighting on, Shirley O’Kelly recognised an opportunity given the scenic setting of the business in the Dublin Mountains. There was an increase in walkers, cyclists and locals visiting Masseys Wood and the Hellfire Club located beside them. They converted the stores department and bought second-hand equipment – and Timbertrove Country Store & Café was born. In line with Timbertrove’s vision, Shirley ensured the café was unique to any other, serving quality home baked food with a warm customer service. And so the renowned Timbertrove Scone was created – a no-fuss scone perfected over time, made with the best quality ingredients, to the high standard that Timbertrove customers have come to expect from the brand.
The cafe grew rapidly and ended up saving the Timbertrove business from collapse – and our best-selling product from both the sawmill and the café to this day remains the humble scone.
Just one question from us then – jam or cream first?
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