About Us

Welcome to The Sourdough Labs – a family-run business for all things sourdough!

Whether you're just starting out or you've been baking for years, we’re here to help you create delicious, artisan sourdough bread with confidence.

Hi, I’m Kerrie – founder of The Sourdough Labs and passionate home baker. 

The story of The Sourdough Labs begins in an unlikely place – a chemical engineering lab. Whilst working on my PhD in chemical engineering, I turned to sourdough baking as a way to unwind, experiment, and reconnect with something hands-on and nourishing. Like many during the pandemic, I found comfort and creativity in the kitchen. But what I couldn’t find was a starter that was consistently strong, lively, and full of flavour.

So, I did what any curious scientist would do – I made one myself.

My kitchen quickly became a fermentation lab. Over the next five years, I experimented endlessly with wild yeast cultures, tracking variables, testing flours, and perfecting feeding routines. The result is Steve the Sourdough Starter – a resilient, balanced, and slightly sweet culture that adapts beautifully to any flour and baking schedule.

What started as a personal project has grown into a family-run business, with every starter carefully nurtured in our home kitchen and packed with love by our small team. Together, we’ve built a collection of live and dried sourdough cultures designed for bakers of all experience levels – including classic white, wholemeal, rye, heritage grain, and our newest addition, a gluten-free buckwheat starter for those avoiding wheat but still wanting all the joy of sourdough.

Whether you’re chasing a bold, tangy loaf, a mild and versatile crumb, or a naturally gluten-free bake, we’ve got a starter to suit your kitchen. Alongside our cultures, we offer thoughtfully designed kits, helpful guides, and all the tools you need to succeed.

At The Sourdough Labs, we blend scientific precision with baking tradition, creating products that rise to the occasion every time.

Our Mission

At The Sourdough Labs, we believe baking should be as joyful and fulfilling as it is flavourful. By combining scientific insight with a love for the craft, we aim to give home bakers a starter that’s reliable, adaptable, and full of character. Our commitment to quality means every batch of Steve the Sourdough Starter—and our gluten-free buckwheat culture—is made to thrive in your kitchen and help you bake with confidence.

And because we’re proudly family-run, you’re never just a customer here. I personally man the inbox and absolutely love guiding new bakers through their sourdough journey. It brings me real joy to answer your questions, share encouragement, and celebrate your wins. I take great pride when I receive photos and feedback showing the fabulous loaves you’ve made – it’s a reminder of why I started this in the first place.

All of our sourdough starters are guaranteed. Should anything go wrong, we’ll always be happy to send a replacement free of charge—because your success is our priority, and we want every baker to feel supported and inspired from day one.

We’re here to support your sourdough success—one bubbly loaf at a time.

Health & Safety – Our Commitment to Quality

  • Registered & Rated: We’re fully registered with our local authority and operate under a certified HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) plan. We’re proud to hold a 5-star food hygiene rating.

  • Eco-Friendly Packaging: Our packaging is fully recyclable and certified by the FPA. All starters are sealed in food-grade, heat-sealed pouches and carefully packed to arrive safely.

  • Freshness Guaranteed: Starters are labelled with a 1-week use-by date from dispatch (or 4 months for dried). Please activate them as soon as you can—hungry starters take a little longer to wake up!

  • Storage: Room temperature – hermetically sealed until opened.

  • Allergens: Most starters contain WHEAT flour (GLUTEN). Our gluten-free buckwheat starter is made using certified gluten-free flour, but please note it is prepared in a kitchen that also handles wheat products.

When you bake with The Sourdough Labs, you’re not just buying a starter—you’re joining a growing community of passionate home bakers across the UK who care about flavour, creativity, and making something meaningful from scratch.

We’re so happy to have you here.

— Kerrie & family
The Sourdough Labs