Robinsons, the Failsworth bakery that’s been serving the people of Manchester since 1864, has announced the heart-breaking decision that it is to close.
In an announcement, Grace Robinson, who with her sister Emma were the sixth generation of Robinsons to have run the business, said that the family had been trying to sell the bakery since earlier this year, but had failed to secure a buyer.
She also cited the ‘the ever-increasing cost of energy, utilities, and never-ending spiralling cost of ingredients’.
The bakery will close its doors for the last time on December 16.
“We put the business up for sale earlier this year,” the announcement reads. “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.
“Sadly, as of now, we have not been able to sell the business, therefore we have had to make this very difficult decision. We will open for the last time on December 16.
“Established in 1864 and passed down through six generations, 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. As a kid it was all I ever wanted to do, and to this day I still love being a baker, it really is my passion.
“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.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to all of you for supporting us through two world wars, two recessions, a Great Depression, covid, multiple supermarket and fast food chains opening closer and closer and many more obstacles. Unfortunately, the struggles of 2023 have proved to just be too much.
“The greatest of thanks goes to my parents who finally get to retire. I think they have stuck around for so long because my sister Emma, and I were so passionate for our family business to survive and thrive.
“We almost made it to 160 years.”
