At the Bedon bakery, those who bring stale bread get a 15 percent discount on fresh bread.

Those who love bread don't throw it away.. That's why in the forno di Rinaldo Belly Bread is never wasted, because it is first and foremost a passion and a symbol. Of sleepless nights, scorching temperatures, and countless sacrifices. Like when, at 13, Rinaldo took his first steps in the world of baking, as an apprentice and helper to a friend's brother. He worked nights, and during the day he went to school, so tired he sometimes fell asleep at his desk.

Or like when, at just 21, the Venetian baker decided to open his first bakery in partnership with a friend. With the money he'd saved from working in a small town near Cantù, he had many dreams and plans. But also a lot of debt, which, however, encouraged him to be ever more determined to carry out his plans. Over time, the two partners' friendship took different paths: Belly He moved to Buccinasco, just outside Milan, and opened his first bakery on Via Palermo. This was followed by a store in Piazza San Biagio.

Rinaldo's love story with bread has lasted forty years, and with it the joys and satisfactions of a tough profession made of scorching ovens, sweat, and nights spent waiting for yeast and dough.

The bread rolls, rolls and oil rolls that are brought back are donated to kennels, catteries, animal volunteer projects or farms for pet therapy.

The idea, now a trademark of the Bedon Oven (on this site Find his story, his initiatives, and even some anti-waste recipes. It all started one morning when an elderly man, a loyal customer, let slip that he was only going to buy one roll because he had yesterday's roll to use up, so he wouldn't throw it away. That sparked the idea: Rinaldo asked him to return the leftover roll in exchange for a discount on the purchase of the new loaf. From that day on, the initiative was a success, and many customers scrapped their bread, even coming from out of town to join.

But not everyone wants the discount, some are fascinated by the gesture of solidarity and altruism, and prefer to leave 15 percent of the possible discount in a A jar that collects donations to adopt less fortunate children from a distance.. But don't call Rinaldo Belly a benefactor: for him, a baker born in the post-war era, being generous and helping those who don't have the same opportunities is not an extraordinary gesture, just a moral obligation.

(Thanks to the Panificio Bedon website for the images)

Read also:

• Solidarity bakeries: wherever possible, donate bread to the poor every day. This prevents waste and helps those in need.
• How not to waste bread
• Where you can find bread at half price