Member portrait: Majas
With a heart for bakeries – and a bit of a restaurant
Majas is located in the summer towns of Larvik and Stavern. Here you can get local baked goods, delicious treats – and incredibly good service.
Photo: Maja's
It started in -93
The man behind the Majas concept, Pål Taklo, opened the doors of the first bakery in 1993. He is a trained baker and worked at a large industrial bakery before he decided he wanted to start his own business.
– I moved to Larvik from Nordfjordeid because I wanted to start my own business. The biggest reason I wanted to run my own business was because I wanted to get closer to the craft of baking.
Entrepreneur and enthusiast Pål Taklo where he feels most comfortable; at the bakery. (Photo: Majas)
Holiday villages in Vestfold
Stavern has been named summer town of the year several times, and Pål says that this influences the operations.
– Majas in Stavern is incredibly important to us in the summer. In Larvik it is doing well all year round, but in Stavern we notice a big decline in the winter months. The months of June, July and August I would call extreme sports. Then we drive a lot of goods, several trips a day, and the number of employees multiplies, he smiles.
“ I'm not religious, but you can become religious by visiting us. Food religious. ”
More than just baking
– What is it like to run a bakery?
– It's a lot of fun, but it's also complex and demanding. We don't just produce baked goods, we also run attractive restaurants with everything that goes with it. You're constantly under a lot of pressure, but I like that.
All baked goods are made in the bakery. – And the selection is truly amazing! (Photo: Majas)
The prayer house
In 2013, a new opportunity arose. The iconic Bedehuset was for sale. This is a building that everyone in Larvik had a relationship with, and Pål decided to open a restaurant.
– The House of Prayer is a building that you notice when you drive past. I wanted to try my hand at the restaurant business, and it was nothing but success. We are on the top list of restaurants in the entire Vestfold county. I am not religious, but you can become religious by visiting us. Religious of food, he laughs.
A good bakery
– Can you describe a good bakery?
– A good bakery is both a place to serve food, a place that bakes and sells good baked goods, and not least a place that has an understanding of both the techniques and the ingredients. The best bakeries think about a total experience. It takes time to create quality, and it requires expertise and hard work.
Punctual deliveries, often
– The best thing for us with Servicegrossisten Øst is that it is possible to buy in smaller quantities. They are not concerned about full pallets, and that suits us perfectly. We have to shop more often and less due to limited storage space, and they are also competitive on price – while providing extra service. We have had the same driver for many years, and we have grown to really like him. He is unique. He loves Majas, and we love him. Nevertheless, we are concerned about not abusing that service, we should not order more often than we have to.
– Which of Systemkjøp's discounts do you use?
– We mostly use the discounts they have at Tine, but also mineral water, fruit and vegetables. At Bedehuset we use the discounts on wine and spirits.
Maja's Bakery:
• Young and modern bakery that bakes everything itself and sells its baked goods over the counter and in an online store
• The bakery concept has two outlets: Majas Bakeri in Larvik and Majas in Stavern
The prayer house:
• Popular restaurant, café and nightclub in Larvik
• Unique premises and concept: Rebuilt from a house of worship to a restaurant in 2016