Dubai: When 60-year-old Antonio David lost his part-time driving job a few years ago, it was tough for his family, especially his children, to see their father heartbroken.Having seen him work hard his entire life to provide for his wife and nine children, his eldest daughter, Joan David, decided to float an idea: “Instead of all of us working for someone else's dream, why don't we build our own?”That idea became the foundation of Russell Dave Bakery, a business that has since grown from a tiny shop in International City to five branches across Dubai and Sharjah.Today, the bakery employs more than 50 people, most of whom are family and friends, and has become a familiar name within the Filipino community."We didn't start a bakery to sell bread," Mark Joshua David, the family's second youngest son and operations manager, told Emirates 24|7.“We started it to create jobs for our family and preserve our parents’ legacy.”A childhood shaped by hardshipLong before opening a bakery in Dubai, the David family's story began in the Philippines.Antonio worked as a driver, earning around 250 pesos (AED 15) a day, while his wife Juvy stayed home to raise their nine children and occasionally took on laundry work to supplement the family's income.The bakery's paper bag is also a tribute to his parents - with his mum and dad represented by the two most popular items at the bakery - the pandesal and the Spanish bread. Photo credit Xavier Wilson"There were days when a single piece of hot pandesal felt like a luxury. We walked long distances to school wearing worn-out slippers. But what we never lacked was love, determination, and faith in one another. That is why bread means so much to us. It reminds us of where we came from," Mark said.Antonio later moved to Dubai to work as a driver, and gradually helped his children find jobs in the UAE. The city, Mark said, has been pivotal in helping their family achieve their dreams, despite the personal setbacks."Dubai is a city built by dreamers. We are just one of many families who came here with hope, worked hard, and were given the opportunity to build something meaningful," he said."Today, all nine of us are qualified professionals, accountants, architects, teachers, healthcare professionals, and master baker. We are living proof that poverty does not have to define a person's future,” he added.A family business in the truest senseEven when the bakery was just an idea, everyone in the David family played a role in trying to bring it to life.His sister Joan, Mark said, emerged as the biggest driving force.“She was the risk-taker who believed in the dream from the beginning, taking on a loan based on her job to invest in the bakery,” Mark said.In July 2023, the family opened their first branch in International City, and their uncle served as the master baker.“Our parents, brothers, sisters, uncle and aunt became the very first employees of Russell Dave Bakery,” Mark said.After his uncle returned to the Philippines a few years later, that responsibility was taken on by the family’s eldest son – Russel, who is now the master baker.Mark Joshua David Operations Manager at Russell Dave Bakery. Photo credit Xavier WilsonBut depending on friends and family to start the bakery was a natural decision for his family, Mark said.“When you're starting with very little, trust becomes your most valuable asset. We trusted each other with our savings, our recipes, our dreams, and our future. We knew that everyone involved cared about the business because it represented something bigger than profit. It represented our family,” he said.Built by the communityWhile the bakery now has five branches and receives thousands of customers and catering orders, it started off much smaller – with his uncle baking bread using just 5 kilos of flour each day.“My dad would distribute the bread to workers at Dragon Mart, nearby salon staff and the residents around our bakery,” Mark said.Soon, word began to spread. Many customers were Filipinos searching for familiar flavours. But what really spread the word, Mark says, is when customers began sharing photos online and posting recommendations in community groups.“We were amazed to see customers travelling just to find our tiny hidden bakery,” he said.The support helped the family quickly expand operations, by opening branches in Sharjah and Dubai.More than just Filipino customersToday, while Filipinos remain the bakery’s core customer base, its appeal has steadily expanded beyond the community.“What touches us most is seeing customers of different nationalities enjoy the same food that many Filipinos grew up with,” Mark said.“It reminds us that while cultures may be different, good food has a way of bringing people together.”One loaf at a timeDespite opening five branches in less than three years, John David, the family's eldest son and master baker, says his family has spent most of that time focusing on consistency, systems and quality."Until today, our growth has been funded entirely from within. We have received interest from people who want to franchise the brand, which is both exciting and humbling. More than expanding locations, our goal is to share what Russell Dave Bakery represents: food made with heart, family values, and the warmth of Filipino hospitality," he said."Our dream is simple. We want more people across the UAE, the Middle East, and eventually the world to experience the food, traditions, and stories that shaped us. We may sell bread, but what truly fulfills us is knowing that every loaf carries a story of family, hard work, and hope," he added.
