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East Bristol Bakery Shuts and Enters Liquidation After Infestation and Cost Pressures

The owner attributes insolvency to soaring costs, weak trade, recruitment gaps, a sudden infestation.

Overview

  • The multi-site Bristol bakery closed without notice on December 4 and is being placed into liquidation.
  • Owner Rob Hagen said a recent rodent infestation at the Old Market site forced repeated closures and halved production, causing losses of tens of thousands of pounds.
  • The business also faced a prolonged drop in midweek trade alongside sharply higher energy and ingredient costs, rising rent and increased National Insurance contributions.
  • With the company insolvent, statutory redundancy, holiday and notice pay for staff are being processed through the government’s Redundancy Payments Service.
  • Hagen said he shut immediately on professional advice to speed payments to employees, as customers expressed disappointment weeks before Christmas.