Iconic bakery chain could make return to UK high streets after closing all shops

A family-run bakery may reopen some of its stores after it was forced to close all of its locations and let 100 employees go.

An iconic 120-year-old bakery chain could RETURN to UK high streets after closing all shops. A family-run bakery may reopen some of its stores after it was forced to close all of its locations and let 100 employees go.

The owner of beloved store Oddie’s, which was based in Nelson, Lancashire, has said that she is hopeful seven of its 13 shops will reopen. Lara Oddie said: “If negotiations go well and certain recipes change hands, you might see your particular favourite make a reappearance.”

“I worked behind the scenes really hard all last year on a deal and literally three weeks before it was meant to happen, the guy pulled out, which left me with very few options and fewer resources,” she said. “But, since the announcements have been made more public, other people have come out of the woodwork.

“So, I am still negotiating with interested parties behind the scenes and I’ve got everything crossed that maybe seven of my shops would reopen shortly.” Lara also said a third of the employees had worked for the bakery for more than 20 years and that they “are like a family”.

“It’s very sad and it’s been heartbreaking for all of us,” she added. The fourth-generation family-run business (W.H. Oddies Ltd) was founded in 1905 by William Henry Oddie and grew to operate 13 locations across the area.

But the business faced “significant hardships” with the economic slowdown having a “profound” impact on its ability to operate at the levels at which it was accustomed to. Oddie’s reacted through a “a combination of centre shop closures, product range rationalisation and reducing staffing levels to the bare minimum”.

“The business was beginning to see the shoots of recovery; however, like all business, cost pressures have continued to escalate, not least though the energy crisis which has depleted much of the companies reserves. This has put a heavy strain on the company’s finances and ultimately the cost to reinvest and recover,” the business said in a statement.