Woodhead Bakery workers were celebrating after nearly all the troubled business’ shops and factory were saved by two separate deals.
Coopland & Sons (Scarborough) bought 18 of the shops, while Bakery Products Ltd, part of supermarket business Haldane Retail Group, snapped up the Scarborough bakery and 11 shops.
Woodhead went into administration at the end of March, after being hit by inflation and rising wheat prices; only the Redcar store was closed, with the loss of 30 jobs.
Midlands-based Bakery Products was set up specifically to manage the new business, appointing Woodhead’s long-standing MD Phil Davis as managing director of the new company. He will take full responsibility for management of the bakery, while Colin Woodhead, although now retired, will work as a consultant.
Haldane Retail Group owns supermarkets trading under three fascias – Haldanes Stores, Haldanes Express and UGO. The bakery will supply all 20 of the new UGO stores, which are scheduled to open over the next six weeks, and will eventually supply all 44 stores in the portfolio.
For the full story see the next issue of British Baker, out 22 April.
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