A WIVENHOE bakery is looking for a new home for its stalls after sugary goods attracted hundreds of wasps.
Family-run Norwegian Bakers, in Brook Street, Wivenhoe, uses outdoor stalls at various locations to sell their wares.
Owner Richard Monk said wasps are an issue which affects “all bakeries that have sugary produce” and inside its bakery it uses nets to ensure there are no insects.
However, the main part of the bakery’s trade is their outdoors stalls.
Each Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, the bakery has a popular stall next to the Co-op in Wivenhoe.
Last week, Mr Monk had to go on the stall instead of a staff member due to the wasps, saying: “Sunday was absolutely beyond the pale to be honest.
“We had wasps swarming around. This year we’ve been wrapping up all individual products in a biodegradable bag and I’ve been putting out icing sugar on a spare bun – I give them a free Belgian bun and feed them on that.
“That is fine for 20 to 30 wasps, it takes them an afternoon. On Sunday I had to replaces it three times and had hundreds of wasps.”
Mr Monk said the stall was unlike other stalls it runs where there are no problems with wasps.
As well as the safety concerns to staff members, Mr Monk says he is “worn out” due to constantly managing the wasps.
He said: “I would say Wivenhoe is the crucial part of business.
“We are based in Wivenhoe - this is where our bread and butter is. We do a lot of stalls in other places, but Wivenhoe is the most important place for us.”
Mr Monk said he thinks there must be a wasp’s nest near the Co-Op, and said he is hoping by the end of August or September most of the wasps will be gone.
An appeal has been launched online for a new temporary location for the stall as this is a crucial time of the year for the bakery.
To find out about more please follow the Norwegian Bakers on Facebook.
UPDATE: Mr Monk said after talks with the Horse and Groom pub at Wivenhoe Cross, they have have agreed they can can set up outside their pub, starting on Wednesday July 6.
He said: "An amazing result.
"Big thanks to Emily, who runs the pub."
