Historic bakery to close down ahead of 160-year anniversary

First opened in 1864, the business has remained in the family throughout its 159-year existence, spanning a total of six generations.

With owner David Robinson set to retire and youngest daughter Grace, who runs day-to-day operations, moving onto a new role, the bakery was put up for sale in August.

However, the family was unable to find a buyer and as a result has been forced into announcing the bakery's closure before the end of the year.

In a post on the Robinson Artisan Family Bakery Facebook page, Grace wrote that with “great sadness​”, the family had been forced to settle on the decision.

Referencing the initial attempt to sell the business, she added: “This was due to several factors, but the overwhelming factors were the economic crisis and the ever-increasing cost of energy, utilities, and never-ending spiralling cost of ingredients.”​

Located in Failsworth, Manchester, Robinsons bakery made fresh bread, pastries and cakes on a daily basis.

“I feel extremely grateful to have had the past 23 years’ experience being taught to be a baker and a business owner by my grandad Arthur, and my dad David​,” the post continued.

“I am thoroughly thankful to our whole team who have helped to make our bakery shop what it has grown to be, and I wish them all success in their journeys going forward.”​

Looking back on the past obstacles the business had managed to overcome, Robinson said that it had survived "two world wars and Covid"​ but “unfortunately, the struggles of 2023 have proved to just be too much".​

“We almost made it to 160 years​,” she concluded.

The news comes in the same week that it was announced that Jacksons the Bakers had been acquired by Allen Jackson Bakery Limited​​.

The move saves the jobs of 50 people employed by the bakery, which secured a prepack deal in early September saving it from administration.