IT is as much of an institution as the food it produces -McGhee's Bakery has been keeping the city in rolls, pies and cakes for 72 years.

IT is as much of an institution as the food it produces -McGhee's Bakery has been keeping the city in rolls, pies and cakes for 72 years.

The family run firm supplies everyone from Glasgow City Council to the city's famous Horseshoe pub, where drinkers tuck into their Scotch Pies.

And now it is in the running for the Evening Times Favourite Business Award at the Glasgow Business Awards.

The firm, founded in 1936 by Dugald McGhee at the original bakehouse in Oran Street in Maryhill, is now run by the third generation of the family - but is light years away from those early days.

From a state-of-the-art production unit at Keppochill Drive, the business produces 1.4million rolls per week. Its fleet of vans with the famous signage of supplier of the Glasgow favourite Crispy Rolls' has customers as far away as Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Stirling and Perth.

Ian McGhee, one of the company's directors, said: "We were amazed when we heard we had been nominated.

"This award is special as it is chosen by your readers and the public, not other business people so it means a lot just to be nominated.

"The business has changed a lot over the years, but it is still a family run affair.

"We are a big employer now and supply more than 1600 wholesalers across the country. But we still like to think of ourselves as a company that gives Scotland a taste of Glasgow."

The business has become one of the biggest players in Scotland, buying out several competitors.

It has more than 130 staff and turnover is low - the average person working for McGhee's has been there for 12 years.

Last year it bought Hayes Bakery, transferring the work to its Keppochill unit and it has strong links with its Maryhill roots through sponsorship of Partick Thistle Football Club.

Ian said: "I think the term is business partners' these days, but we wanted to give something back to the community that we come from and Partick Thistle is the nearest club to us.

"If we won the Evening Times Favourite Business Awards we'd be delighted. It would be a huge pat on the back for all of our staff and great recognition for everyone's efforts."

The Evening Times Favourite Business Awards is a unique category at the Glasgow Business Awards, organised by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by Bank of Scotland Corporate.

The winner is decided by you - Evening Times readers. Just fill in the form on the right or send an e-mail to awards@eveningtimes.co.uk. Entries have to be received by October 1.

The gala final will be on October 23 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

For more information visit www.glasgowbusinessawards.org