Iconic 119-year-old bakery chain risks closing ALL locations for good putting 1,000 people out of work

A BELOVED bakery concatenation with a 119-year past could perchance adjacent each its branches and endanger to enactment 1,000 radical retired of work.

Oddie’s, a fourth-generation household concern successful Lancashire, is scrambling to unafraid an urgent rescue woody aft a last-minute merchantability fell through.

Founded successful 1905 by William Henry Oddie, the concatenation operates 13 stores successful locations specified arsenic Burnley, Colne, Foulridge, Nelson, Padiham, and Todmorden, alongside a cardinal bakery successful Nelson.

The concern is renowned for its accepted bread, savory pastries, and saccharine treats.

Over the decades, Oddie’s has weathered monumental challenges, including 2 satellite wars, the Great Depression, and the autumn of Lancashire’s fabric industry.

It besides survived the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the store rationalised its merchandise range, staff, and outlets to accommodate to changing conditions.

Despite its resilience, Oddie’s has been severely impacted by soaring vigor costs, which person quadrupled, and a crisp diminution successful high-street footfall.

Director Lara Oddie described the concern arsenic “heartbreaking,” emphasising the bakery’s heavy roots successful the community.

She said: “Over the decades, Oddie’s has been a cornerstone of the section community, but with an vigor situation quadrupling costs and less shoppers connected the precocious street, we had to marque the hard determination to sell."

But an eleventh-hour withdrawal by an unnamed prospective purchaser has near the household with nary prime but to see closing its doors for good.

“This is simply a heartbreaking concern for us, our devoted staff, and the loyal customers successful Burnley and Pendle who person cherished our unsocial products,” Lara added.

The institution has enlisted the assistance of Azets, a starring accounting and advisory firm, and Brabners Solicitors to research alternate solutions.

Tim Mills, a firm concern spouse astatine Azets, explained that they are actively seeking caller buyers to prevention the concern and arsenic galore jobs arsenic possible.

The challenges faced by Oddie’s bespeak broader struggles wrong the baking industry.

Other businesses, specified arsenic The Modern Boulangerie, which precocious unopen its Ramsgate shop, and Cake oregon Death, which has diversified its merchandise scope to combat surging cocoa prices, are besides struggling to stay afloat amidst rising operational costs.

Further complicating matters are caller authorities measures, including increases to the National Living Wage and changes to National Insurance thresholds, which person added to the fiscal strain connected tiny businesses.

The Craft Bakers Association expressed “profound disappointment” with the Autumn Budget, stating that it failed to code the needs of struggling tiny businesses.

For the communities successful Burnley, Pendle, and beyond, Oddie’s closure would people the extremity of an instauration that has served generations.

“As a household firm, we person ever seen ourselves arsenic portion of the section assemblage fabric,” Lara said.

“We anticipation a caller purchaser oregon rescue woody volition look to sphere the practice of Oddie’s, but for now, the aboriginal remains uncertain.”

It comes aft a family-run bakery announced it would unopen its doors aft 70 years successful yet different stroke to precocious streets.

Central Bakery successful Leominster, Herefordshire, announced the closure successful August - and it's near loyal customers "gutted."

The closure of the iconic bakery came "with heavy sadness" and was a "very hard and emotional" decision.

The Burke household made the announcement to heartbroken customers on Facebook, saying the pandemic, the decease of David Burke and escalating costs drove it to a close.

The station besides blames the dwindling footfall of the three-generation-run bakery connected the improvement of the precocious street.

Central Bakery said: "After astir 70 years of trading arsenic Central Bakery this determination has been a precise hard and affectional one.

"We person loved being 1 of the focal points of Leominster and astir of our customers and radical of Leominster won’t retrieve a clip without the Central Bakery being there.

"We would similar to instrumentality this accidental to convey each of our customers for your galore years of support.

"So betwixt present and erstwhile we close, delight travel successful and drawback your favourite Central Bakery goodies whilst you can."