Fifty years ago, two brothers VP Francis and his younger brother VP Thomas, worked in George Oaks, which was a Ford Motors showroom. In the evening they worked in various food outlets which gave them the idea to start their own bakery.

So in 1957 on August 15, they started out in a tiny shop on Leonard Lane, which is near Johnson Market.
“They would get up early and help with the organisation of the bakery and then go on to their job. They produced only bread and buns initially,” explains VF David, eldest son of VP Francis and owner of Fatima Bakery and Supermarket on Hosur Road.

“In three months, the duo saw a huge demand for their product, so they packed in their jobs and began working in the bakery full time. Families from the surrounding areas began to come to them and their business flourished. In two years they approached All Saints Church for a long lease and started Fatima Bakery.

“It was at that time that a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, said to be miraculous, came to Bangalore from Portugal. The brothers were then inspired to call their new business, The Fatima Bakery," explained David.

“In those days I was a little boy and came home from school to help my Dad. Business grew rapidly and our clients comprised Chief Secretary J Rebello, JC Lynn, IGP Albert Manoraj, IGP Nizamuddin, Archbishop Arokiaswamy, Bishop D’Mello, and Jaikar Jerome. In fact we did so well that Christmas orders were placed two months in advance by our customers.

“There were just three good bakeries in the City in those days: Koshy's, Nilgiris and Fatima. Christmas was a huge festival and grandly celebrated with sales beginning from the December 10. From December 22 there was no place to stand in the shop, the sales were so overwhelming,” revealed David.

“In the mid '60s my uncle VP Thomas decided there was room to start his own operation and so branched out and began All Saints Bakery,” says David. "So that's when I began to take more responsibility and help my father.” 

What’s popular

Over the years the store is popular for it's curry puffs, mutton patties, coconut sweet and plum cake. Their hot cross buns and Easter eggs for Easter are legendary and people throng the store during the Easter festivities. They also did a lot of catering for wedding celebrations and parties.

The present

Today Fatima Bakery and Department stores is owned by VF David and he is helped by his dad. David's son Francis Vellara has now joined the family business and has new ideas to expand the same. David's second brother Joven runs the famous Vellara Junction store and Sunflower Hotel.

"Because parking has become such a problem and Bangalore has spread out 50 years later, we have plans to open a new outlet in Koramangala and so have built a four-storey building, to cater to our customers there. We plan to celebrate Independence Day on August 15 our employees and customers,” says David.