Cardiff-based Pettigrew Bakeries is to open three extra sites following a merger with fellow artisan bakery Friends in Knead.
Under the deal, Friends in Knead outlets on Moy Road in Roath and at Newport Market will switch to Pettigrew branding. Meanwhile, its existing Castle Arcade unit will become a standalone showcase for Pettigrew’s range of patisserie and artisan entremets collection – which it said had become a core part of the bakery business since Bake Off: The Professionals 2021 winner Michael Coggan joined the team last year.
The merger would ‘offer the best of both bakeries’ and increase the range of bakes available, Pettigrew added.
“We are so excited to welcome the Friends in Knead team into the Pettigrew family and for what this means for all of our staff,” said Pettigrew founder David Le Masurier.
“We have an opportunity to share skills, increase our product range, and expand the business in ways we didn’t think possible until now. We have always been passionate about real bread, made from scratch every day – and now we have found a way to create the capacity we need to start offering our Cardiff-made, specialist products to other independent cafes, restaurants and delis around the city. We know how much care our local chefs put into their food, and now they’ll be able to get the quality bread to match.”
Staff from both businesses will continue to work for the brand. Friends in Knead founder Ceri Bower will join the team in a new role on her return from maternity leave next year.
In February, Le Masurier announced plans to sell Pettigrew Tearooms to focus on the bakery side of the business but said the merger now meant he no longer needed to choose between both.
“Dave and I have been friends for years, leaning on each other for support through all the ups and downs of running your own business,” Bower added.
“It is invaluable having a sounding board who uniquely understands the pressures of being a baker whilst also running a busy, fully independent artisan bakery. We are both really excited for what comes next.”
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