Cumbrian business Grange Bakery has closed permanently, shutting all four of its shops due to the ‘current economic climate’, according to a post on the company’s website.
It operated four shops in the region on the edge of the Lake District serving up a range of sweet and savoury baked goods ranging from sourdough to celebration cakes, pastries, and more.
“With great sadness we are sorry to announce the closure of Grange Bakery with immediate effect,” the post states. “The current economic climate has been very difficult for small independent businesses like ours and despite the best efforts of our staff we simply cannot continue.”
It went on to thank staff for their “hard work and dedication over the years” as well as the loyal and regular customers. “We are very sorry that we will no longer be there for you,” the post concluded.
Prior to the announcement of its closure, much of the bakery’s equipment – including a five-unit stack oven, bread provers, and dough mixer – was advertised for sale on its Facebook page.
The business had been struggling for a while, making changes to its operations to keep afloat. A further post on its website from director Kamal Siddiqi said as of 30 November it had stopped making bread. “Due to the current economic climate, with the significant increases in the costs of ingredients, energy, and operational expenses, it has become unsustainable for us to continue our in-house production without compromising on quality or facing significant financial losses,” it read.
The bakery planned to continue selling bread through partnerships with local suppliers, with pastries, cakes, and other baked goods continuing to be made in-house.
Grange Bakery isn’t the only one to struggle of late. At the start of the year, fellow Lancashire bakery chain Oddie’s, which had been in business for 120 years, closed all 13 of its shops and central bakery in Nelson with the loss of more than 100 jobs following “significant hardships”. Its assets, including production equipment, recently went to auction.
Bakery businesses of all sizes are facing pressures in 2025, with Lesley Cameron, CEO of trade association Scottish Bakers, among the bakery leaders to warn of the impact increased costs, particularly payroll, would have on businesses. “Many bakeries will struggle to assign funds for crucial investments or even have to close their doors,” she said.
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