Laurent Boillon, founder of Laurent Bakery: how a French pastry chef revolutionised the way Australia eats bread

Meet Laurent Boillon, the trailblazing founder of Laurent Bakery, on this episode of You are so French! The Podcast.

Discover how Laurent transitioned from a budding pastry chef in from Aix-en-Provence to revolutionising the Australian bakery scene over 35 years.

Experience Laurent's passionate journey as he mastered French baking techniques, introduced Australians to the art of sourdough, and scaled his business in a market unfamiliar with high-end French baking. Learn about the cultural challenges he faced, his triumphs in Melbourne, and his journey to creating a recognised brand throughout Australia.

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a lover of French cuisine, Laurent's story of dedication, innovation, and success is sure to inspire. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about how one man's vision can transform appetites and business atmospheres alike.

Bonne écoute!

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Episode markers:

• 01:41 – Episode introduction: Meet Laurent Boillon
• 03:45 – Learning pastry art with the best: apprenticeship at Lenôtre in Paris
• 07:05 – The call from overseas: Switzerland, St. Martin Island, USA, Scotland
• 08:32 – Becoming a baker and the art of sourdough bread
• 12:01 – Arriving in Australia: Cairns as a first stop
• 12:37 – Moving to Melbourne and early challenges
• 16:20 – Building Laurent Bakery: educating the market and training staff
• 18:45 – Sourcing quality ingredients
• 22:10 – Expanding the business and close partnerships
• 28:50 – Innovations in bread production and how Australia changed the way they eat bread
• 34:17 – Balancing work and family life
• 38:16 – Legacy and inspiring the next generation
• 41:22 – Future plans and aspirations
• 41:55 – Les mots de la fin
• 44:10 – Laurent’s reflections on his journey and success