H.U.G Bakery is run today by Mette Marie Sarbo and her partner, Philippe Lefebvre.

Mette Marie grew up in a home filled with a deep love of baking. Her mother, Dorte, spent countless hours developing recipes, and as children, Mette Marie and her siblings were always invited to taste-test the many loaves and cakes coming out of the kitchen.

In 2006, Mette Marie and her brother Mikkel opened one of Copenhagen’s first tea salons, Tante T, in the Vesterbro neighborhood. Once again, their mother Dorte took her place behind the mixer, crafting irresistible baked goods. It was here that Mette Marie’s own passion for baking truly began to blossom—and it quickly became clear that she had real talent.

In 2014, Mette Marie moved to the town of Fredensborg and soon after opened Mette Marie’s Kitchen in the town’s old train station building. Many of the recipes from Tante T made the move with her, though the ingredients began to change. After personally experiencing significant improvements in her digestion and overall well-being, Mette Marie made the decision to bake exclusively gluten-free.

The bakery quickly became a gathering place for enthusiasts—and among them was Kathrine Rosamunde, who often stopped by to talk sourdough and cake techniques. Those conversations eventually led to a partnership. In 2016, Kathrine joined the business, and Mette Marie’s Kitchen became Det Glutenfri Bageatelier (“The Gluten-Free Baking Atelier”). Together, they began developing new gluten-free products. Word spread quickly, and demand for high-quality, organic, gluten-free bread steadily grew.

In January 2019, Mette Marie and Kathrine published their baking book HELT UDEN GLUTEN (“Totally Without Gluten”) with Politikens Forlag. The book is packed with recipes, tips, and tricks for anyone interested in gluten-free baking. Their mission was clear: to show that eating gluten-free isn’t about missing out—it’s about discovering new and exciting ingredients, unexpected flavors, and for many, a deeper sense of well-being.

In January 2020, the small gluten-free bakery made the move from Fredensborg to the Østerbro neighborhood of Copenhagen and became H.U.G Bageri. H.U.G stands for Helt Uden Gluten (“Completely Without Gluten”)—and also for the love and care baked into every item, so that each bite feels like a warm hug.