Carl and Lorraine Edney, the owners of Splits bakeries, have taken over the former West Sussex Bakery in East Wittering. The couple are working hard to turn it into a thriving business again after former owner, Carl Boothby, was found guilty at Chichester Magistrates Court of seven hygiene offences, including moth infestation in an open bag of flour.

The Edneys, who have three other bakery shops in Chichester, Bognor Regis and North Bersted, took over the business on 18 January and spent eight days steam-cleaning and binning everything. The kitchen has been replaced with stainless steel throughout and the couple have brought in four full-time bakers, who work a night shift from 8.30pm to 4.30am.

The bakery, three times the size of the couple’s original Bognor bakery, has now become the hub of Splits’ business, and baking has ceased in Bognor.

For Carl Edney, things have gone full circle. He worked in the East Wittering bakery 20 years ago and can remember how busy it was. Business went downhill under the previous owner and the Edneys’ challenge is to build it back up. Carl Edney is positive, but realistic: "The Witterings have doubled in size in 20 years. However, Tesco and the Co-op have opened across the road."

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