Two Magpies Mini Magpies

Source: Two Magpies Bakery

Pictured left to right are Mini Magpies staff Lily Ellard, Emilie Kernohan (cafe manager) and Martha Patterson

Bakery and cafe group Two Magpies has developed a new format aimed at grab-and-go customers.

The business, which already has seven cafe sites across Suffolk and Norfolk, will be opening the first of its ‘Mini Magpies’ in Beccles at the end of this month.

Offering only 10 covers, the new site will focus on takeaway sales such as coffee and handmade bakes on the go, and will be open from 8.30am to 4pm, seven days a week.

Two Magpies Bakery hopes to roll the concept out across the region.

“We have witnessed a change in people’s preferences since first opening and there is now a growing demand for great-tasting coffee and treats to go, particularly in these tourist hotspots,” said Two Magpies operations director Yasmin Wyatt.

She added that the new Beccles site would offer a similar selection of bakes to its other outlets, including hand-laminated pastries, sourdough bread and coffee.

“Since opening in Southwold over ten years ago, we have brought Two Magpies Bakery to towns and villages across East Anglia, and have developed a strong identity for delivering beautiful handmade treats, using only the best ingredients, whilst offering great customer service,” she added.

Two Magpies Bakery currently has a team of more than 200 bakers, pastry chefs and baristas across its sites in Southwold, Aldeburgh, Darsham, Woodbridge.

Last year, co-owner Steve Magnall told British Baker of ambitions to expand the business to 20 or 30 sites with a turnover of £20-25m.

At that time the business had just taken on a new manufacturing site in Walpole, Suffolk, with the potential to treble its current capacity. The 11,000 sq ft is a significant increase on Two Magpies’ former production premises which produced bread and pastry from two 2,000 sq ft sites.