More than 100 jobs saved at bakery chain
Alison’s Coffee Shops of Doncaster – which traded as Cooplands Bakery – appointed Steve Parker and Trevor Binyon, partners in Opus Restructuring LLP as Administrators, as adminstrators on November 2.
This followed a period of sustained cash flow pressure due to higher manufacturing costs and slow sales. A company voluntary agreement that was agreed with creditors fell through, forcing Cooplands into administration.
Cooplands Retail acquired the business and certain assets of Alison’s Coffee Shops on the same day, including 29 retail stores.
Continues trade as Cooplands
The 150 staff employed by Alison’s Coffee Shops have been retained by Cooplands Retail and the business continues trade as Cooplands.
A Cooplands Retail spokesman said the company was pleased to be continuing the hard work that had gone on over the last two years to return Cooplands to its “former glories”.
“An entirely new product range is on sale and an ever increasing percentage of product is made in house at the original bakery of Cooplands in Doncaster,” said the Spokesman.
“Customers are returning and sales are increasing once more. We are fiercely proud of Coopland’s Yorkshire roots and we believe we offer a genuine and value alternative to the large national bakery chains and supermarkets.”
Bought out of administration
The acquisition is the second time in two years that Cooplands has been bought out of administration.
Business restructuring specialist Resolve acquired both Cooplands’ 41 stores and its van delivery business in February 2015. However, it still closed 39 stores and axed 300 jobs.
Commenting on Cooplands Retails’ recent acquisition, Steve Parker said: “It would have been a tragedy if such a well-known local business as Cooplands had failed after being a fixture in its region ever since it was originally established in 1885.
“We are pleased to see it survive and continue to serve its loyal customer base.”
