CORENTIN Laumaille opened Perth’s first French Boulangerie patisserie – Sancho Bakery – on Hay Street in 2012. Earlier, Mr Laumaille travelled to France to work with Jean Pierre Sancho, who had a reputation for making the best bread in the Languedoc region in the south of France. While in France, Mr Laumaille learned recipes and techniques passed down from Mr Sancho’s grandfather more than a century ago. Sancho Bakery prepares all food from scratch from its main store and kitchen on Hay Street and sells the produce from three different retail stores across Perth. The bakery is independently run and operated as an extended family business, and currently employs 50 staff. Sancho Bakery supplies bread to some of Western Australia’s most awarded restaurants, including Neil Perry’s Rockpool restaurant. In October 2011, the bakery won the Catering Institute of WA’s gold plate for ‘best coffee shop’ in Perth. An active member of the WA community, Sancho Bakery credits word of mouth for its early success. The business joined the ‘Buy West Eat Best’ campaign in April 2011 and has continued to support WA schools, Princess Margaret Hospital and various charities.