A bakery and coffee shop chain, Butterwick, is set to close 12 of its 14 locations due to increased operating costs and shifts in consumer spending. Founded by Fiona and Ryan Scarborough in Corby, Northamptonshire, the business will maintain operations only at its branches in Rushden Lakes retail park and St Giles’ Street in Northampton, while the remaining locations will shut down immediately.
In a statement shared via Facebook, the owners expressed their regret over the impact on employees, referring to it as a “heartbreaking” situation. Butterwick had multiple branches in Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, as well as in Milton Keynes, Rugby, and Retford.
The owners emphasized that the decision to close the majority of their stores was not made lightly. They cited ongoing challenges related to rising costs and changing customer spending patterns as factors that made it unsustainable to continue operating all branches.
Despite the closures, the owners are optimistic about the future, describing the situation as a transition rather than an end. They intend to concentrate their efforts on the two remaining locations in order to create a more focused bakery experience, highlighting craft, freshness, and innovation. Additionally, they confirmed that all existing orders for celebration or wedding cakes will still be fulfilled.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5q141gn2ro?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss