Thomas the Baker is investing more than £750,000 in rebuilding and refurbishing its Thomas of Helmsley delicatessen.

The refurbishment, which is expected to be completed by September, will also bring the consolidation of the two Thomas’ stores within the town.

The existing Thomas the Baker shop, currently based opposite the deli on Helmsley’s Market Place, will relocate to within the newly revamped store.

Incorporating the bakery will require fitting several ovens to the deli site, and the company is also creating larger cooking and food preparation areas as it plans to offer more ready-to-eat meals.

Staff areas including offices, a meeting room and a social area, will also be refurbished.

“The changes will be worth it – and will allow us to offer so much more,” said Thomas the Baker founder John Thomas. “We’re looking forward to a new era and offering some exciting new products for our customers.

“The lease was up on our bakery shop across the road, so it seemed like fate that the two should be joined together, making it even easier for our customers shopping in Helmsley, and creating a fantastic one-stop shop.”

Thomas the Baker told British Baker that no jobs would be lost and all staff would be redeployed.