There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the supermarket aisles.

Whether you’re picking up a crusty sourdough, a sweet custard scroll, or a classic cheese and bacon roll, Coles’ bakery section is a treasure trove of deliciousness.

But have you ever noticed a mysterious little code on the label of your favourite treat and wondered what on earth it means?


Well, you’re not alone! One eagle-eyed Coles shopper recently spotted the letters ‘SC’ on the label of their beloved Custard Pull Apart scroll and took to the internet to solve the mystery.

Was it an abbreviation? A secret baker’s message? Or is it just a bit of supermarket slang?


Curiosity got the better of this shopper, so they posted their question on Reddit’s Coles thread: ‘What does SC on bakery items mean?’

The responses were as varied as the bakery’s offerings! Some guessed ‘store cooked’, others joked it meant ‘so custardy’, and a few thought it might be ‘single coated’.

But then, a Coles employee chimed in with the real answer—and it turns out there’s a whole secret language behind those little codes!


Here’s what we learned from an insider and a helpful Coles spokesperson about bakery labels.

SC means scratch-cooked or baked from scratch in-store, so those products are made fresh by Coles bakers right in the store.

PB stands for par baked—these items are mostly baked at a remote bakery, then frozen and finished baking in-store to give that fresh-baked taste.

This method is often used for Laurent and Coles Finest sourdough and sometimes for rolls when baker staff are limited.

FD means frozen dough, where the dough is shaped and frozen offsite, then fully baked in-store, usually for items like Danishes and crown pastries.

Lastly, FZ indicates products like round rolls and hot dog rolls were fully frozen before being sold.


A Coles spokesperson confirmed: ‘The 'SC' is simply an internal code for our team, which means it’s baked in-store.

But here’s a fun twist: just because a product doesn’t have a code doesn’t mean it’s not baked in-store!

Some bakery products are only made from scratch in-store, so there’s no need for the 'SC' code.

We only use the 'SC' code on those products which could be baked in store OR parbaked before being delivered to the store before its final bake.’

So, next time you’re picking up your favourite scroll or roll, take a peek at the label—you might just be holding a little piece of bakery insider knowledge!

For many of us, especially those who grew up with the local baker, knowing your name and your favourite loaf, freshness, and quality are everything.

These codes are Coles’ way of keeping track of how each product is made, ensuring consistency and transparency (even if most of us didn’t know what they meant until now!).

If you’re particular about your bread being baked from scratch on-site, now you know what to look for.

And if you’re just after a tasty treat, rest assured that Coles’ bakers—whether in-store or at a remote bakery—are working hard to deliver delicious results.

Here are some tips for enjoying Coles bakery treats at home. Reheating scrolls or rolls in the microwave for 10 to 30 seconds can bring back their fresh, soft warmth.

If you find a good deal, buy extra and freeze the items—they generally freeze well and can be quickly revived in the microwave or oven.

Add butter, jam, or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar for a little extra flavour to make your treats even better.

Supermarkets are full of little quirks and codes—sometimes it feels like you need a secret decoder ring just to do your shopping!
Have you ever spotted a strange label or code and wondered what it meant? Or do you have a favourite Coles bakery item you think everyone should try? Let us know in the comments below.