EMMA Parkin has been baking bread for a living for the past five years.

She is one of a small but growing band of dedicated artisan bakers creating a range of breads that bear absolutely no resemblance to the plastic-wrapped, sliced varieties sold in supermarkets.

She loves her job and what she produces, and freely admits that she could talk about it all day.

"I love chatting to people when they come to the farmers' market to buy it," she adds. "It is great to have the feedback and interest.

"Real bread has undergone a renaissance in the past few years and now more and more people want to buy it fresh — and they want to know more about where it came from and how it was made.

"It is the same for lots of other local products. I find that more people now want to eat good food and do more cooking — so they want it local and fresh."

Emma has been selling her bread at the Thursday morning market in Exeter for the past three years — but now wants it to be available six days a week.

She is currently renting a unit at Shillingford Organics Farm, near Exeter, but has outgrown the premises.

She is hoping to open a bakery in the city centre as an integral part of the Real Food Store.

This new initiative, which is backed by a number of other local producers, will specialise in local, organic and fair-trade food like fruit and vegetables, dairy products, meat and a range of grocery items, a café using the same range of ingredients and Emma's bakery. An upper floor community space will offer a day-time and evening venue for training and talks

"The arrival of such a store in the heart of Exeter is what many local residents have said they want and exactly what our extensive and diverse network of local producers need," said Emma.

"I want people to come into the store and see and smell bread coming out of the oven, and then take it home warm. Nothing beats that quality and flavour, so it's exciting to be part of this venture."

However, unlike most business start-ups, Real Food is a community benefit scheme, which raises capital investment from a large number of people, families, organisations or other community groups, who buy shares in the business in return for potential long-term financial gain.

It is a pioneering idea for Exeter, but it is a model that has worked successfully in many other cities in the UK.

The first share offer was launched last month and already almost half the £150,000 costs have been raised.

"We have had a really positive response but we need to get the rest of the money by the end of August," said Emma. "More than 160 people have bought shares and that tells us that there are a lot of people out there who are looking to buy good quality, local food in the city.

"We have identified empty premises in Paris Street which offer easy access for pedestrians, cyclists, and those using public transport, plus parking nearby.

"We would like to sign the lease enabling essential refitting work to be carried out over the summer. Time is short, and we are keen to encourage people to 'put their money where their mouth is' in order for this project to go ahead."

Emma turned her love of baking into a business five years ago having trained as a graphic designer and worked in PR.

"Although I enjoyed my work, there was a real need in me to make something. Something that uses a different part of the brain. I think a lot of people feel like that," she said.

"I've always been interested in bread. My mum made bread at home and it's such a fundamental food."

Emma makes a wide variety of different and seasonal breads and is renowned for her 100 per cent rye sourdoughs which come in two varieties — straight rye and Borodinsky.

The latter is based on a Russian recipe and it gets its sweet, unusual taste from the coriander and black treacle which are part of the recipe.

She also runs bread-making courses: "My mission is to educate people who want real bread that tastes, feels and looks like real bread."

Emma is the first to admit that making a living as an artisan baker is hard work. The long hours often extend into the evenings, too — not for the faint-hearted.

"It's tough making a living out of producing food and it is really hard work," she says. "But I love it and wouldn't want to do anything else."

Details on: www.emmas bread.co.uk

People wanting to find out more about the opportunities to invest in The Real Food Store can visit www.realfoodexeter. co.uk