Rangiora, New Zealand was where Dean’s passion for baking started. Little did he know that this passion would go global.
1969
The Birth of a Baker
Born in a hurry in his parents living room, Dean spent his early years exploring the outdoors, playing sport, roving the beach and forest with his dog Slippy and visiting his nana in Rangiora, 3 miles away.
1970
Dean and his older brother Hans regularly spent weekends with their maternal Nana Smith. Pictured here is Dean and Hans with Oma Elizabeth Brettschneider who made regular visits to New Zealand from the Netherlands.
Baking With Grandma
Nana Smith was a rural farmers wife who loved to cook, bottle and bake. Some of Dean’s fondest childhood memories are of baking scones with her on Sundays. As a teenager, Dean lived with Nana Smith for an 8 month period during his baking apprenticeship. She was a major influence in Dean’s life at this time.