Kansas State’s spring semester just got a whole lot sweeter with the much-anticipated return of Derby Dining Center’s Retail Bakery. The bakery opened later than expected for the spring semester in mid-February because of staff shortages.
After undergoing a complete renovation, the Retail Bakery fully reopened this past March with a new display case, counters and equipment. Tammy Poovey, bakery manager of the newly renovated Derby Dining Center, said that staff makes everything in the bakery fresh daily.
“We make loaves of bread on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. We make all the pizza crusts, bakery items and desserts,” Poovey said.
The Retail Bakery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Students can also place online orders through the bakery website for sweet treats such as gourmet cookies, scones and sweet rolls, as well as full-sized birthday cakes, tailgate treats and gift bags.
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Valerie Donelan, culinary operations manager, said the newly-opened bakery and other places throughout Derby are accepting applications for retail staff. Positions include bakery staff, serving lines, helping cooks and assisting in the dish room.
“Student employees rarely work in one area but instead work in multiple areas,” Donelan said over email. “During the application process, they are applying to work at Derby, not a specific area.”
Donelan also said K-State Housing and Dining offers consistent, flexible scheduling and convenient locations for undergraduate students to work and gain transferable skills. Employees do some weekend work as well.
“Personally, I love the flexibility — not worrying about my job interfering with my classes, which is amazing,” Ellie Haines, freshman in elementary education and dining center employee, said.
Students with a sweet tooth can walk with friends to the Retail Bakery at Derby Dining Center for breakfast, after getting out of a long lecture or order some fudge brownies online to enjoy from the comfort of their dorm room. Wildcats are in for a treat this semester!
