A Letter From Kate: Introducing Old Town Collective
To our Island Community,
For the past 26 years, I’ve had the privilege of building businesses rooted in food, family, and community here on Vancouver Island.
What started with a small-town bakery in Ladysmith has grown in ways I never could have imagined. Along the way came Wild Poppy Market, Cold Front Gelato, and Old Town Ice Cream, each created with its own purpose, personality, and place in our community.
Today, I’m excited to share the next chapter with you: the launch of Old Town Collective.
Old Town Collective brings all four businesses together under one shared umbrella and vision, while still preserving the individuality and heart of each one. Alongside this launch, we’re also proud to introduce our new website: [LINK]
This isn’t about changing who we are. It’s about honouring where we’ve come from and creating more clarity around the connection that has always existed between our businesses.
At the core of everything we do is a simple belief: quality matters, and people can feel the difference when something is made with care.
That belief has shaped every loaf of bread pulled from the oven at Old Town Bakery, every batch of gelato spun at Cold Front, every nourishing offering at Wild Poppy Market, and every scoop served at Old Town Ice Cream.
It has also shaped how we lead our teams, support local suppliers, and create spaces where people gather, celebrate, and connect.
Many of you have been part of this journey for years. Some of you grew up visiting the bakery. Some discovered us through gluten-free baking at Wild Poppy. Others found a favourite gelato flavour at Cold Front, inspired by travels through Italy and a love for traditional gelato culture. However you found us, thank you.
Your support has allowed these businesses to grow thoughtfully and organically over the years while staying deeply rooted in the communities we serve.
As we move forward as Old Town Collective, our commitment remains the same:
- To make food with integrity and care
- To create welcoming spaces for our communities
- To support local whenever possible
- To mentor, support, and build teams where people can grow
- To continue evolving while staying true to our roots
This new chapter simply gives us a stronger way to tell that story.
I’m incredibly proud of what our team has built together, and deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us along the way. We truly would not be here without you.
Thank you for being part of our story.
With gratitude,
Kate Cram
Founder, Old Town Collective
