Nagpur’s food culture did not begin with cafés and themed dessert studios. It grew out of small neighbourhood bakeries that supplied bread, biscuits and simple cakes to generations of families.

Some of these establishments began operations before Independence and have continued through changing consumer habits and expanding city limits.

Their counters have seen colonial trade patterns, post Independence rationing, and the rise of celebration cakes as a social norm. These bakeries form a part of everyday memory in Vidarbha, where routine purchases of bread and biscuits became household rituals.

1. Jubilee Bakery, Mohan Nagar, Nagpur

Jubilee Bakery is widely regarded as one of the oldest operational bakeries in Nagpur, having been established in 1896, and it has a long-standing reputation in the local bakery trade. The bakery’s own website states that it began in 1900 and explains that the name “Jubilee” was chosen to mark a celebratory milestone during that period. The variation in founding year between 1896 and 1900 places it firmly in the late nineteenth-century to early twentieth century bracket. Both sources confirm that the shop has operated for more than a century.

The bakery is known for its products, including ginger biscuits, dates and walnut cake. These products are repeatedly mentioned in connection with the store’s older recipes. The shop has been described as a multi generation business, with family continuity sustaining operations across decades.

Jubilee Bakery operates from Mohan Nagar in Nagpur and continues to sell traditional baked goods alongside contemporary offerings.

The bakery’s long history positions it within the broader commercial growth of Vidarbha during the British period, when railway connectivity and urban markets expanded. Its presence for over a hundred years indicates consistent consumer demand and adaptation to shifting food trends. Jubilee remains a functioning bakery rather than a commemorative brand, maintaining daily operations. Its longevity is backed by published documentation rather than anecdotal claims.

2. Saibaba Bakery, Itwari, Nagpur

Saibaba Bakery in Itwari is listed with a year of establishment recorded as 1949. This places it in the immediate post Independence era when neighbourhood businesses were consolidating in market zones such as Itwari. Itwari has historically functioned as a major wholesale and retail trade centre in Nagpur. A bakery founded in 1949 in this area would have served a dense residential and commercial population.

Public listings identify Saibaba Bakery as a traditional neighbourhood bakery supplying routine baked items. The establishment is not positioned as a premium dessert studio but rather as a daily supply outlet for bread and basic snacks. The founding year of 1949 is clearly mentioned in its business listing, providing documentary support for its age.

Being established shortly after Independence situates the bakery within a period of economic reorganisation in Vidarbha. Small businesses in this era often relied on consistent local demand rather than branding campaigns. Saibaba Bakery’s continued presence in Itwari suggests sustained patronage across decades. Its survival for more than seventy five years places it among Nagpur’s older functioning bakeries. The shop’s identity is tied to its locality and long term customer base.

3. Anand Bakery, Sitabuldi, Nagpur

Anand Bakery in Sitabuldi is documented as having been established in 1957. Listings for the Sitabuldi outlet clearly mention the year 1957 as the founding year. The bakery’s own social media branding also uses the phrase “Established 1957,” reinforcing the same timeline. Sitabuldi has historically been one of Nagpur’s central commercial districts, making it a strategic location for a food business during the mid twentieth century.

The bakery’s long standing presence in Sitabuldi indicates that it has operated through decades of commercial expansion in central Nagpur. Anand Bakery is known for standard bakery offerings such as bread, biscuits and cakes, catering to both walk in customers and celebration orders. The year 1957 situates it in a period when urban retail trade was becoming more structured in the city.

Its founding date places it within a post Independence economic phase that shaped many small enterprises in Vidarbha. Operating from a busy commercial zone ensured steady customer flow. Over time, the bakery built recognition through continuity rather than periodic relaunches. Public listings confirm its longevity rather than relying on informal claims. Anand Bakery’s documented age of more than six decades secures its place among Nagpur’s older bakeries.

4. Shabana Bakery, Chaoni Area, Nagpur

Shabana Bakery is recorded as established in 1984. While it does not date back to the colonial or early post Independence period, its founding year places it among the older generation of bakeries that emerged during Nagpur’s late twentieth century expansion. By the 1980s, the city had grown significantly beyond its earlier municipal boundaries. Chaoni developed as a residential and commercial zone during this time.

Over four decades of continuous operation place Shabana Bakery within a long running category in the modern context. Its offerings align with standard bakery products, including bread and cakes.

The period of the 1980s marked a shift in consumer demand toward celebration cakes and customised orders. Shabana Bakery’s founding during this era reflects changing urban food habits. Its presence in Chaoni connects it to the expanding residential clusters of Nagpur. Though younger than nineteenth century bakeries, it has crossed the forty year mark and remains operational. Its age is supported by a publicly accessible trade listing.

5. Cakes and Cookies, Ramdaspeth, Nagpur

Cakes and Cookies in Ramdaspeth is listed with a year of establishment recorded as 1994. While 1994 may not appear historically distant compared to earlier entries, it represents over three decades of continuous operation. Ramdaspeth is a central locality with medical institutions and residential clusters, providing a strong customer base for bakery products.

Cakes and Cookies became known in the city for celebration cakes and pastry items. Unlike colonial era bakeries that focused on bread and biscuits, establishments founded in the 1990s increasingly emphasised customised cakes. The 1994 founding year situates it in a period of economic liberalisation when consumer choices expanded.

The bakery has operated through changing retail formats and digital ordering platforms. Its three decade presence places it among the older surviving bakeries of the liberalisation era in Vidarbha. Business listings confirm their establishment year rather than relying on promotional claims. Cakes and Cookies represents a later phase in Nagpur’s bakery timeline, while still qualifying as one of the city’s long running establishments.

Nagpur’s oldest bakeries reflect more than food trends. They map the commercial evolution of the city across more than a century.

From late nineteenth century establishments to businesses founded during post Independence restructuring and liberalisation, each bakery emerged in a different economic context. Their continued operation indicates sustained consumer demand and adaptability.

These bakeries remain functioning retail spaces rather than historical exhibits. Their founding years are supported by published reports and verified business listings. In a city that continues to expand, these longstanding bakeries remain fixed points in everyday commerce.

FAQs

Q: Which is the oldest bakery in Nagpur with a documented founding year?

A: Jubilee Bakery in Mohan Nagar is widely cited as one of the oldest, with reports mentioning 1896 and the bakery’s website stating 1900 as its founding year.

Q: What are some bakeries established before 1960 in Nagpur?

A: Saibaba Bakery established in 1949 and Anand Bakery established in 1957 are documented pre 1960 bakeries operating in Nagpur.

Q: Are there any post Independence bakeries in Nagpur that are over 40 years old?

A: Yes. Shabana Bakery established in 1984 and Cakes and Cookies established in 1994 have been operating for decades and are listed as long running bakeries in the city.