There’s no shortage of ambition in the UK bakery market. Although the recently published Bakery Market Report 2026 revealed estate growth in the out of home market was slowing, there are plenty of businesses chomping at the bit to make their mark on the landscape.
From craft bakery chains to US sandwich brands, we take a look at the firms with ambitions for growth which, if they come to fruition, would see them land on the Bakery Market Report’s top 75 list in the coming years.
Bread Ahead
Famed for its iconic doughnuts, London-based Bread Ahead is on the hunt for franchise partners in Greater London with an aim to open around 20 new shops over the next two years. This would see its UK estate nearly triple from the nine locations across the capital at present. The bakery, which began as a market stall in Borough Market in 2013, is looking for locations with “strong footfall, the right customer mix, and an environment that fits a premium bakery brand”, according to founder Matthew Jones, who added these could be on high streets, transport-led sites, or neighbourhoods.
Cinnamood
Unlike most of the firms on the ‘Ones to watch’ list, Cinnamood has yet to open a location in the UK. Regardless, the cinnamon roll specialist has made its ambitions known having appointed London-based Seeds Consulting to lead its UK franchise expansion, to add to its 56-strong store estate across Europe and UAE. It has already secured a multi-site franchise partner for the UK, with the first location set to open in Camden Town, London in Q2 of this year, followed by a second site at Westfield. The firm is targeting major metropolitan areas including Birmingham and Manchester. Its menu features classic cinnamon buns as well as the likes of blueberry, red velvet, apple, and salted caramel ones.
Doughnotts
Nottingham-based doughnut specialist Doughnotts has secured a six-figure debt funding package to support its next phase of growth, which includes franchising. Founded in 2015, it has grown from a small kitchen start-up to a multi-site retail operation with six stores across Nottingham, Beeston, and Lincoln. Its doughnuts are manufactured at a dedicated site in Nottingham which supplies its estate as well as a range of local cafés and eateries, including retail partners such as Co-op.
Dum Dum Donuts
Dum Dum is back and ready for business. Founded as a pop-up in Stratford by Paul Hurley in 2013, the doughnut specialist opened its first bricks-and-mortar site at Boxpark Shoreditch the following year, later expanding to run a total of 16 stores in London, Brighton, Windsor, and Birmingham. The pandemic put an end to this though, forcing the business to shutter all sites. Refusing to be left on the sidelines, in March this year, Dum Dum unveiled a 6,000 sq ft bakery, innovation, and training facility in Brentford thanks to a multi-million-pound investment which will support its ambitious plans over the next five to 10 years. The production unit has the capacity to support 10 new openings a year – several are in the pipeline for 2026 with one in Wembley Park already up and running.
Jersey Mike’s Subs
Arguably the most ambitious company on this list, at least when it comes to site numbers, is US-based sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s Subs. Yet to open a location on this side of the pond, the company has signed a franchise agreement to support its ambitions to open 400 stores in the UK and Ireland with JM Submarines UK – a newly formed firm led by Jersey Mike’s founder Peter Cancro. Jersey Mike’s is known for its deli-style subs filled with freshly sliced meats, cheeses and customisable salad ingredients. Among the top-selling items on its menu in the US are the Turkey & Provolone, Original Italian, and The Club Sub – all served cold – as well as the Mike’s Famous Philly hot sub.
Knead
Southwest chain Knead Bakery has big ambitions, but it’s being pragmatic about the speed at which it achieves them, aiming to have 100 sites up and running in the next 15 to 20 years. At present, it has five locations in Elkstone, Cirencester, Oxford, Tetbury, and Tewkesbury. The craft bakery business, which was co-founded by chefs Kris Biggs and John Hawes in 2020, is looking for “priority locations” in the southwest with Bath, Bristol, and Cheltenham on the map. It serves up a range of handmade pastries, patisserie, cakes, and savoury treats including sausage rolls, Danish pastries, almond croissants, sea salt & rosemary focaccia, and lemon meringue pie.
Public
Craft bakery chain Public is set to expand further across the Midlands and even up to Scotland having secured a seven-figure loan. The company currently operates four locations – in Leicester, Loughborough, and Nottingham – with sites in Bath, Bristol, Leeds, and Manchester all potential options for the future. At present, Public is on track to hit double-digits for sites by the end of 2026. Founder Raffaele Russo described the concept for Public as combining welcoming interiors, conducive to socialising and co-working, with exceptional food and drink. “Each venue features a theatrical on-site bakery, communal tables for co-working, and a vibrant social atmosphere that attracts students, professionals, and shoppers alike,” he said.
Sandwich Sandwich
Family-run firm Sandwich Sandwich is aiming to have 25 stores across London within the next four years as it looks to tap into the capital’s desire for deep-filled sandwiches that create “epic cross sections”. The business, which was founded by Nick Kleiner in 2012, currently operates six sites – four in the capital and two in Bristol. The latest opening in Broadgate, London saw it venture into the grab & go market as Kleiner looked to prove “food to go can still be genuinely exciting and creative”. Sandwich Sandwich’s menu spans breakfast, lunch, and snacking occasions with fillings such as Spanish chicken, rare roast beef, tuna crunch, and roast pepper & mozzarella.
Stir Bakery
Cambridge-based Stir Bakery is accelerating its expansion plans after smashing its crowdfunding target for the second successive year, with £291k raised in late 2025 (well above the £200k it was aiming for). Stir’s expansion plans include opening two new sites of its Marvin’s sandwich brand in parallel with each other following its first opening in autumn last year. It is also set to open three new Stir Bite Size stores, adding to its four cafés across the city which accommodate around 60 covers each. Supporting growth ambitions is an ongoing project to increase capacity at its bakery production site in Cambridge North, with new talent including head baker Frederic Guilbeau and head pastry chef Arthur Quaireau driving innovation.
Sourdough Sophia
London-based Sourdough Sophia has opened a new 7,000 sq ft production space near London Bridge station to support its ambitions of 20 sites across the capital. The craft bakery brand – which currently operates four locations in the city – is aiming to add four sites a year to its portfolio until it hits the magic number. Sourdough Sophia was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife duo Jesse Sutton-Jones and Sophia Handschuh, and serves up a range of artisanal sandwiches, hand pies, cruffins, and cakes, with flavours rotated seasonally.
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