This winter will see beloved Victorian-based bakery Ferguson Plarre’s Bakehouse celebrate 125 years of business.

To kick off the celebrations every Ferguson Plarre location across Victoria will be giving out a free slice of birthday cake with any purchase.

Ferguson Plarre chief executive officer Steve Plarre said they were proud to still be a family-run business after 125 years, and that the Plarre family values remain at the centre of everything they do.

“In a world of trends and viral food moments, Ferguson Plarre has stood strong as a reliable and comforting bakery staple in local communities for years, with almost 80 bakeries across Victoria,” he said.

“We know what we’re good at, and we’ve spent 125 years perfecting recipes that have been passed down for five generations of Plarre’s, from vanilla slices and chocolate eclairs to the perfectly flaky sausage roll or tiddly oggie.

“We’re a family business at heart, so it only felt right to celebrate this exciting milestone with our wider family by sharing some birthday cake, just like we do at home.”

The first Plarre’s Cakes shop was opened by Otto Plarre on Puckle Street in Moonee Ponds, which remains the oldest – and longest-running – Ferguson Plarre location to date. Otto’s great-grandchildren, Steve and Mike Plarre, now run the business after learning the ropes from their father, third generation baker Ralph Plarre OAM.

It was Ralph who brought together the Ferguson and Plarre families into the business as it is today.