Scottish craft bakery Alexander Taylor is looking for new buyers as it prepares to end six generations of family ownership.
The business located in the south Lanarkshire market town of Strathaven was first established in 1820, making it one of the region’s oldest bakeries.
Alexander Taylor operates two freehold premises either side of Waterside Street, both painted in eye-catching pale aquamarine.
The 1,580 sq ft production site includes a retail outlet with an entrance on the corner, and there is also a small upstairs space for extra circulation area and staff toilet. Over the road is the café-deli which, like the bakery shop, is said to benefit from consistent footfall, repeat trade, and strong community ties.
In 1997 Barry Taylor and his wife Claire took over the business from Barry’s parents. The couple enacted several changes over the years, experimenting with different recipes and introducing the likes of sourdough to its range of breads, sweet and savoury pastries, cakes, and confectionery.
The bakery’s best-selling products now include sourdough, croissants, Kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns), Danish pastries, and morning rolls, while grilled sourdough sandwiches and soup are top orders at the café.
After just shy of three decades working early mornings and long hours, Barry and Claire now want to pursue creative endeavours – they first met at art school in Cheltenham. However, there is no succession plan of passing on the business to the seventh generation of Taylors.
Despite their two children growing up in and around the bakery, including a period during lockdown when just the four of them ran it, the parents said they didn’t feel it fair to burden them with continuing the family ownership. Their son is currently studying at university whilst their daughter is a cyclist.
According to its sale listing on Business Partnership website, turnover at Alexander Taylor is in excess of £750k with gross margins of around 75% – an experienced workforce of 26 staff ensures smooth day-to-day operations. Prospective buyers are offered flexible acquisition options, including business-only with lease or freehold property.
The bakery offers significant growth potential via digital ordering, catering, and wholesale expansion, notes the sales pitch. It currently only does a very small amount of wholesale.
“There is a lot of love for the business, it is well supported by our customers and is thriving,” Claire Taylor told British Baker.
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