British Baker has published its annual Bakery Market Report, offering the lowdown on the industry’s 75 biggest players, measured by the number of retail-focused sites they operate.

There are movers, a couple of new faces and one or two noticeable absences from this year’s list. Here we take a look at some up-and-coming bakery businesses that could appear on the list in the near future.

Doughnut Time, London

Doughnut Time arrived on the UK scene in September 2017 and, since then, has been expanding at a steady pace across the capital. Originally from Australia, it arrived just as interest in premium doughnuts really began to take off, meaning its range of over-the-top creations, complete with pop culture-inspired names such as Donutella Versace and Bueno Mars, was an instant hit.

It now has 12 stores in a variety of locations, including Blackfriars train station, Covent Garden and a trailer at Westfield Stratford, as well as a Doughnut Academy, with more in the pipeline.

“We now have a dozen stores, and agreements in place to open many more in the coming months. We’re continually looking for additional permanent sites, as well as pop-up locations across the capital,” said Doughnut Time owner Tom Anderson at the time of its most recent openings.

The Flour Pot Bakery, Brighton & Hove

The Flour Pot Bakery came to life in 2015 after branching off from high-end catering company and hospitality consultancy Juniper Catering, which The Flour Pot’s owner Oli Hyde founded in 2004.

Its presence has already been felt across the town, with five locations and a licensed restaurant in the iconic King’s Road Arches on Brighton Beach. Unlike The Flour Pot’s other sites, the restaurant model is built around higher spend per head with sourdough pizzas, charcuterie and hot skillets on the menu.

It is this model that Hyde told British Baker would “travel beyond the city limits”, with the potential to expand into nearby towns including Worthing, Eastbourne and Haywards Heath.

Crosstown Doughnuts, London

London-based Crosstown Doughnuts is celebrating five years of ‘keepin’ it fresh’ with its signature yeast-raised sourdough doughnuts. Its doughnuts are made from scratch daily, with all jams, compotes, glazes and toppings made in-house.

It launched in 2014 as a market stall on Leather Lane and has since expanded to have 11 stores in the capital and stalls at seven markets, as well as being stocked by Planet Organic and Whole Foods. A site in London’s Fenchurch was the most recent to open this month with another planned for Canary Wharf in late June.

In 2017, Crosstown created its first vegan doughnut and, since then, has committed to offering a wide range of treats suitable for those following a vegan lifestyle. It even opened up a wholly vegan shop in Marylebone and made stalls in Brockley and Victoria Park vegan as well.

Tim Horton’s, nationwide

If Canadian restaurant chain Tim Horton’s continues with its current level of growth, it’s a sure thing for the 2019 Bakery Market Report. Renowned for doughnuts and coffee, its first UK, and European, site opened in Glasgow in June 2017. Since then, it has expanded rapidly to 21 sites across the UK.

Its focus is predominantly in the north of England and Scotland, with its presence in the south only extending as far as Birmingham and Cardiff.

Franchises are a key part of Tim Horton’s growth. In December, a company called Pizza Cake, which also operates Domino’s Pizza franchises, secured funding to open three drive-thru sites in Scotland.

The Tim Horton’s brand was created in 1964, when Tim Horton, a National Hockey League star, opened the first store in Hamilton, Canada.

Simit Sarayi, London

Turkish brand Simit Sarayi first hit the UK market on London’s Oxford Street in 2015.

With a focus on world-famous locations such as Leicester Square and Camden Lock, the brand has expanded to 15 sites across London, where it serves up a variety of traditional Turkish bakery items such as circular bread Simit, soft rolls called pogaca and savoury pastry swirls known as borek.

In 2016, Simit Sarayi sought to further bolster its European operations by investing in a London-based factory to support further growth across the continent.

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