Liverpool-based Baltic Bakehouse has appointed liquidators after a ‘series of challenging circumstances’ forced the closure of its three sites in the city earlier this year.
The sourdough specialist had been left unable to pays its debts, resulting in its decision to cease trading in April and make all 24 employees redundant.
Established in 2012, Baltic Bakehouse had operated branches on Allerton Road and Bridgewater Street in the Baltic Triangle area of Liverpool as well as a production unit on Wellington Road in Wavertree, which also supplied wholesale to hospitality businesses across the city.
A statement from the Manchester office of business advisory firm Quantuma confirmed its appointment as liquidators earlier this year.
It noted that bakery’s financial difficulties were initially attributable to events arising in 2023 including its move to the Wavertree site. This had resulted in significant increases in costs and overheads – in particular energy, rent, and insurance fees – and subsequently incur an after-tax loss.
Compounding matters was a dispute with the local council in late 2024 over its Bridgewater café, which saw it forced to reduce capacity. Then in March of this year, Baltic failed a hygiene inspection at Wellington Road, which was shuttered with no indication of when it could reopen.
Following a review of the company’s financial position, Quantuma found it to be insolvent and was formally instructed to assist with the formalities of placing it into Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation.
“It is deeply regrettable that Baltic Bakehouse has been forced to cease trading, due to a series of challenging circumstances,” commented Quantuma managing director and joint liquidator Jeremy Woodside. He noted that his firm’s immediate priorities have been to provide appropriate support to those whose jobs have been affected, including claims on the redundancy payments office, whilst seeking to obtain maximum value for the company’s creditors.
“On the date of appointment, our inhouse [Employment Rights Act] specialists issued 21 RP1s [Redundancy Payments forms] to affected staff for completion,” added Woodside, revealing that 17 of the forms had been returned to date with a lead time for payments to be made “in the region of six weeks.”
Baltic Bakehouse have been contacted for comment.
It’s been a difficult year for craft bakery chains, with Loaf MCR in Manchester, The Crusty Cob in Devon, Grange Bakery in Cumbria, and Oddie’s in Lancashire all annoucing closures since the start of 2025.
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