Warrens Bakery has revealed further expansion plans at the opening of its new store in Barnstaple this weekend.
Cornwall’s oldest bakery said it would be adding three more shops to its 41-strong estate over the summer, which currently spans Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and South Wales, as well as outlets in Gatwick Airport and Derriford Hospital, and in service stations at Cullompton, Peterborough and Cambridge.
Locations for these new shops have yet to be confirmed. Meanwhile, Warrens will also continue to rebrand all its existing stores, scheduled for completion by mid-2024.
The expansion marks a turnaround for the business which completed its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). The CVA was agreed in 2019 and allowed Warrens to avoid liquidation or insolvency. It reported a strong sales performance last year with turnover rising by 30% to £12.5m, resulting in a £2m increase in operating profit.
The bakery’s latest shop on Barnstaple High Street is its second in the North Devonshire town. An official opening ceremony this coming Saturday (1 July) will see deputy mayor Cllr Janet Coates cutting the ribbon at 10am.
“We are thrilled to strengthen our position in the heart of this vibrant and historical town,” said Warrens CEO Mark Sullivan. “We see significant potential for Barnstaple and North Devon going forward, both in terms of a growing local population and tourism.
“Our presence goes back many decades, and we feel a central part of this community, so it’s good to be adding to local employment prospects once again. We hope customers enjoy the new brand concept, which is friendly and inviting, while offering some great products too.”
The shop offers inside and outside café seating and will sell Warrens’ standard bakery range of hot pasties and other savouries, doughnuts, cakes, and sandwiches, including vegan and vegetarian options as well as ‘purse-friendly deals’. The hot and cold drink offerings in Barnstaple will include its new Tango Ice Blast, a slushie-style beverage said to be ‘all the rage with young people’.
To promote the new opening, the company will distribute buy-one-get-one-free vouchers for pasties on the high street and posting special offers across its social media including the chance to win a box of pasties.
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