Stacks Deli, Bakery & Coffee House in John O’Groats on the northern tip of Scotland has been put on the market.
Mother and daughter team Teresa and Rebecca Wymer, who set up the business in a derelict Caithness pottery building in 2016, are retiring and pursuing a new career direction respectively.
Teresa had previously been a cake decorator and managed a five-star bed & breakfast, while Rebecca worked as a pastry chef.
Stacks crafts all its bakery items in-house with a constantly varying selection said to suit seasonality, affordability, and “most importantly: what the bakers want to bake”. Most popular products include giant sausage rolls and cheese scones, fresh cream bakes, handmade marshmallows, and Belgian chocolate brownies.
The business also provides external catering services and attends local markets and festivals throughout the year, as well as hosting events on the premises such as charity fundraisers, live music, and Hogmanay celebrations.
Like most foodservice operators, the pandemic “really floored” business at Stacks, but the Wymers thought fast and adapted quickly, launching brownie boxes for nationwide delivery during lockdown and changing the layout of the shop to suit takeaway trade.
“Although it was a huge amount of work, we are proud that no member of staff lost their position and we maintained a profit during the roughest years in recent history,” commented Rebecca.
Stacks remains open and trading as usual whilst new owners are found, with an average of six staff employed over the winter to service the local trade including those indulging in the weekend tradition of taking a “run to Groats in the car”.
The workforce rises to around 15 in the peak summer months, when the main bulk of visitors come to enjoy the seaside walks, wildlife watching, and as a stop on their road trip around the famous North Coast 500 circuit.
“The location is also famous for being the start or the finish line for the hundreds who complete Lands End to John O’Groats every year,” notes Rebecca. “Trust me, when a cyclist crosses the line after over 1,000 miles, they want a big slice of cake and a coffee; the training diet goes out the window!”
Stacks is named after the nearby ‘Stacks of Duncansby’, spectacular and often photographed sail-shaped sea-stacks of rock just off the coast.
The retail space is listed on Gumtree with a price tag of £360k, and includes a fully equipped 334-sqare-foot commercial kitchen, a food safe dry store, a deli shop with 18 indoor seats, large garden with 70 eco-friendly outdoor seats and two wheelchair access benches, three customer toilets, office space for two desks, and private parking for staff.
“The scope of opportunity for a buyer is enormous,” declared Rebecca. “The iconic location and a solid good reputation are a real benefit for anyone to make their dream come true.
“The building could be used for any number of things although it’s fully kitted out for hospitality/retail for a perfect turn-key opportunity,” she added.
Interested parties can contact the owners directly for more details and to discuss terms of sale via private arrangement. Financial figures are also available upon request from serious potential buyers.
No comments yet