After more than 45 years in operation Bakers Delight has hosted its first ever pop-up deli.

The event, which took place on October 17 and 18 in Collingwood, Melbourne, was held in conjunction with Australian spice brand Mingle, and saw a range of limited-edition menu items on offer, from sandwiches right through to bakery-themed drinks.

Throughout the pop-up five custom sandwiches were on offer: the Everything Rueben featuring pastrami, salami, Swiss cheese, and a special sauce on an Everything Sourdough Baguette, and a Cheesymite Remix, which was a twist ion the cult classic Cheesymite Scroll. Then there were finger bun iced lattes and iced matchas. Some of the range landed in bakeries on October 15.

Bakers Delight chief marketing officer Jodi Murray told MSN that the move reflected shifting Australian eating habits toward artisanal bakery options.

“After more than 45 years of baking for Australians, we’re doing something completely new with our first ever sandwich deli,” she said.

“Sourdough and gourmet sandwiches are a huge part of how Australians eat today, and Bakers Deli is our way of celebrating our new Everything Sourdough range with a fun, delicious experience.”

The pop-up is just one of a number of innovations Bakers Delight has experimented with in recent years. Another has been the ongoing trial of a compact, metro store model in Melbourne’s Camberwell Place, which was unveiled last year.

At its unveiling  Bakers Delight joint chief executive officer David Christie said the smaller store was a game-changer for the Bakers Delight network.

“It’s lower cost, high efficiency format that delivers strong ROI and opens the door to new locations and franchise opportunities,” he said.

“The Camberwell Place bakery is more than just a new store. It’s  a strategic investment in the future of the brand.”