Kim Marshall’s baking journey began unexpectedly after moving to the remote Ardnamurchan Peninsula in 2011. Initially unable to cook or bake, Kim taught herself out of necessity for her family, eventually discovering a talent for making chocolate brownies. What started as a hobby soon became a full-time passion, fuelled by the enthusiastic feedback from her early bakes.
Initially selling her brownies to raise money for a dementia charity, Kim’s creations quickly became a local favourite at Kilchoan’s producers' markets. Over the years, what began as a side project has flourished into a thriving business.
Part One
A Flourishing Enterprise
By 2024, after several house moves and a steep learning curve, Kim has turned Little Bay Brownies into her full-time profession. She now supplies brownies to local businesses and operates her own coffee trailer, which serves hot and cold drinks, snacks, and her signature brownies.
The trailer travels to events and markets across the region, including the bustling Glen Spean Producers Market.
For Kim, these markets are more than just sales opportunities—they're a chance to connect with fellow producers, where cooperation and mutual support are key to success.
Kim’s involvement with the Highland Good Food Partnership, supported by Scotland Food & Drink’s Regional Food Groups, has helped foster these relationships, as she contributes towards their goal of building a fairer, more resilient food system across the Highlands.
Kim’s commitment to supporting local businesses is evident in her close relationships with suppliers. From using coffee beans from Argyll Coffee Roasters to offering sausage rolls from Mingary Castle, Little Bay Brownies embraces a collaborative ethos. Her brownies are sold in a range of local cafés and shops, including Café Tioram, The Olive Garden in Oban, Hebridean Larder’s pizza trailer in Spean Bridge, and The Rockfield Centre in Oban.
Part Two
Balancing Family and Business
A significant motivation behind Little Bay Brownies was to create a flexible business that allowed Kim to work around her family’s needs in the remote Highlands. Running her own business has enabled Kim to balance family life without sacrificing income or missing key moments with her children. As her own boss, she’s found a harmony between work and home life that was previously out of reach.
Beyond markets and cafés, Kim has set up an honesty box at the end of her drive, where locals and visitors alike can help themselves to freshly baked brownies and leave payment in a tin. This charming initiative not only adds a personal touch to her business but also strengthens her ties to the community.
On a larger scale, Kim’s national brownie delivery service through her online store allows her creations to be enjoyed across the UK, while keeping her local post office busy!
Looking Ahead
As Little Bay Brownies continues to grow, Kim remains focused on supporting other small food businesses and sourcing even more locally produced ingredients, with ambitions to add local milk and chocolate to her trailer’s menu.
Despite her business's success, Kim remains grounded, describing herself simply as “just a mum with a teeny business, winging it every day.” This humble yet determined spirit has become the secret ingredient behind Little Bay Brownies’ success, proving that with passion, a small business can have a big impact.