A well-known bakery chain has been forced to close all of its shops with immediate effect, delivering a devastating blow to customers just weeks before the crucial Christmas trading period.
Sudden Closure Amid Festive Rush
The popular group, East Bristol Bakery, announced on Thursday, December 4, that it was ending all operations. The business pointed to a catastrophic combination of factors that made continuing impossible. These included a dramatic drop in midweek trade over the past year, which failed to recover, and severe recruitment challenges over the last six months.
The company's statement revealed the intense financial pressures it faced. Energy costs, flour, ingredients, rent, and other overheads had risen far beyond historical levels. The increase in National Insurance further strained an already growing wage bill.
Rat Infestation Deals Final Blow
The final, unexpected crisis came in the form of a significant rat infestation at its Old Market bakery site in the last month. This forced the business to halve its production and temporarily close the bakery, resulting in an unplanned financial hit running into tens of thousands of pounds.
"This created a financial hit of tens of thousands of pounds out of the blue, and ultimately made the business unsustainable," the statement explained. The company is now going into liquidation.
The closure affects all its locations, leaving customers in Easton, Wapping Wharf, and Old Market without their local bakery. The chain expressed deep regret and paid tribute to its dedicated team, stating: "Our team has continued to produce exceptional work... I am so sorry that we’ve not been able to keep the business alive."
Staff Payments and Liquidation Process
The owner stated that once it became clear the business was no longer viable, professional advice was sought. The difficult decision to shut immediately was made to facilitate staff payments as quickly as possible.
Employee payments are now being handled through the government's Redundancy Payments Service. This ensures staff receive statutory redundancy pay, holiday pay, and notice pay directly through the official scheme, which is the standard legal process when a company becomes insolvent.
"The team deserves the absolute best, and I am devastated I haven’t been able to keep the bakery going for them," the owner added, concluding a sad chapter for a beloved local business on the eve of Christmas.
