Vendor Spotlight: The Golden Pantry

There’s something extra special about pulling a warm, homemade treat out of the oven - especially when you're the one who made it. For Emelya Dore of The Golden Pantry, that feeling inspired a business built around making gluten friendly baking a little easier, more accessible, and (of course) delicious. Established during the summer of 2025, The Golden Pantry brings gluten friendly, ready-made baking mixes to the Horton Farmers' Market and other local St. Thomas, Elgin County, and surrounding area markets.

Emelya’s own experience with gluten intolerance was a big part of what inspired the business. Finding good gluten friendly products can sometimes be difficult, and she wanted to create something that would help fill that gap. Rather than selling finished baked goods, she decided to offer baking mixes, which are easier to store, have a longer shelf life, and give customers the ability to enjoy the experience of baking fresh goods right at home.​

So when she heard about the Summer Company Program through the Elgin/St. Thomas Small Business Enterprise Centre, Emelya ​decided to apply. 

The Summer Company Program is an Ontario government initiative that provides students age 15-29 with grants, hands-on training, and local mentorship to launch and run their own summer business. It allows students returning to school to learn essential business skills and connect with business community leaders while exploring self-employment during their summer break. 

She was accepted into the Summer Company Program, and The Golden Pantry was able to move from ideation to reality. What started as a summer project has continued to grow into a small business with an expanding product selection, more market appearances and an increasing number of repeat customers. 

Behind each mix is a recipe that Emelya has personally tried and tested. Her gluten-friendly ingredients are made with gluten-free ingredients at the Innovation Kitchen, with each product based on recipes she has found to be delicious. Her goal is simple: to create mixes that make it easier for people to enjoy baking without having to compromise on flavour. 

Even the name has a personal story behind it. Emelya’s last name, Dore, means “golden,” which became the inspiration for The Golden Pantry. It's a sweet connection between the business and the person behind it - and a name that suits a pantry full of things meant to turn into something delicious. 

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What makes The Golden Pantry different is the experience it offers. While many gluten-friendly businesses focus on ready-to-eat baked goods, Emelya’s mixes allow customers to do the baking themselves. They can be tucked away in the pantry until the perfect baking day comes along, making them a convenient option to have on hand. 

Emelya says all of her products are unique, but two that you may want to keep an eye out for are her banana bread and pumpkin spice muffin mixes. These flavours aren’t always easy to come across in the gluten-friendly market, making them a unique and fun addition to her product line.

The Horton Farmers’ Market has been part of The Golden Pantry’s story from the very beginning. Emelya already knew about the market, and once she started her business through the Summer Company Program, she began attending as a vendor. For a new business, it was a great way to introduce her products to the community, meet other vendors, and give customers a place to find her. 

Since then, Horton has continued to be a favorite part of her business experience. Emelya describes the market atmosphere as pleasant, with friendly vendors and staff, and as she puts it, “I always have a fun time at the market.” The market has also helped her establish connections within the local community and create a space where customers can find and get to know her business. 

For other small businesses considering taking the leap into entrepreneurship, Emelya recommends getting out there and attending as many markets as possible. The more people see your business, the more familiar it becomes, and different markets can also help you figure out where your products connect best with customers. She also recommends having a Square reader or another form of electronic payment, since not everyone carries cash. 

For Emelya, one of the best parts of owning a business is the opportunity to be her own boss and have fun with what she does. She also believes strongly in the importance of supporting small and local businesses because, “it helps build a community.” Through The Golden Pantry, she is doing her own part by creating a local business that gives customers another way to enjoy gluten-free baking.  

Outside of Horton Farmers’ Market, you can find The Golden Pantry at the Dutton Farmers' Market and pop-up shops at the Innovation Kitchen. She will also be attending the Komoka Market for the first time in November. To keep up with Emelya and see what she is baking next, follow The Golden Pantry on Instagram and Facebook. Also feel free to reach out through Instagram or by email at [email protected] to place an order. 

Remember to save a little room for something “golden” in your pantry. 

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Kate Hanslip, Summer Marketing Assistant ​

Kate is a recent social sciences graduate from Western University and currently a marketing student at Fanshawe College. Having grown up in St. Thomas, she brings a love of history and storytelling to her work where she enjoys highlighting the people, businesses, and stories that shape the community. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies, exploring local trails, and experimenting in the kitchen.