We are a 4th generation, family-owned award winning business and our handmade oatcakes are enjoyed all around the globe. Of course there have been changes over the years but what has remained constant is pride in our heritage, our focus on quality and a loyal workforce - many of whom have been with us over 20 years, and even some for over 40 years.

How it all began...

1890's

Tod's of Orkney Ltd, the parent company of the brand Stockan's Oatcakes, can trace its origins back to the 1890's when a young Gilbert Archer (the great grandfather of the current generation, Irene and Catriona) joined Tod's, a wholesale grocer based in Leith, Edinburgh. As the business grew it moved north, a natural extension when working out of Leith, as boats owned by the North of Scotand Orkney & Shetland Steam Navigation Company plied their trade to the Orkney Islands and the north of Scotland.

Early to mid 1900's

Tod's, in which Gilbert by now was a partner, purchased R. Garden & Company Ltd, General Merchants, Kirkwall. In addition to the original premises on Bridge Street, horse vans, then fuel driven vehicles sold groceries, household items and Garden's bakery goods around the mainland districts, while floating shops catered for the other islands.

During World War I and II, Garden's bakery held the contracts to supply bread to HM ships in the anchorage of Scapa Flow.

1950 - 1980

In 1952 the trade mark to use the image of the majestic 450 foot 'Old Man of Hoy' sandstone rock stack on our packaging was obtained. The variety of goods sold changed over the years but the bakery continued to produce a wide range of loaves, tea-breads, biscuits, cakes and of course oatcakes.

1980 - 2010's

In 1986 the company acquired Stockan's bakery based in the picturesque harbour town of Stromness. This brought the much loved, fine milled Thin oatcake recipes into the range and the brand became known as Stockan and Gardens. Later the brand name became Stockan's Oatcakes when all production moved to Stromness.

2013 Great Taste 1* Awards - Mini Cheese & Mini Garlic Oatcakes

2016 Highlands and Islands Food & Drink Awards Winner - Orkney Beremeal Oatcakes

2018 Scottish Food Manufacturer of the Year

To present day

Great Taste 1* Awards

2020 Orkney Beremeal and Mini Cracked Black Pepper

2021 Orkney Cheese Triangles and Mini Original

2022 Orkney Heritage Spelt Wheat, Herb & Pepper

2023 Orkney Thick Oatcakes

Orkney Heritage Range

Building on our values of heritage, provenance, quality & health we launched this range in 2022. Each box contains grooved triangle oatcakes that can be neatly split into 2, which are baked with wholegrain oats and ancient grains but with a modern twist.

The two new products are Spelt Wheat, Herb & Pepper (Farm&Deli 2023 Gold, SSFS Glasgow 2023 Gold, Great Taste Award 2022 1*) and Bere Barley, Chilli & Cheese (Farm&Deli 2024 Gold, SSFS 2022 Glasgow Bronze).

Click here to buy our Orkney Oatcakes.