Morrisons bakery closure: UK supermarket to remove iconic 100-year old bakery from shop shelves - putting dozens of jobs at risk
Morrisons has confirmed major closure plans in a blow to dozens of workers.
The supermarket giant has announced it will shut down its Rathbones Bakery facility in Wakefield, placing 115 workers at risk of losing their jobs. The bakery narrowly avoided being shut in November 2024 when it was operating on the verge of closure.
Following a restructuring process, the facility remained operational but at a significantly reduced capacity. Despite these earlier efforts to salvage the business, the site has continued to struggle financially, prompting the latest announcement from the retailer.
As part of the restructuring, the bakery abandoned white bread production entirely, pivoting instead to specialty items including pita bread, crumpets, pancakes, and rolls. According to The Grocer, earlier projections from the business had suggested the operation could achieve breakeven status by 2027.
Those hopes have now been dashed. The 28,000 square foot facility's future use has yet to be determined, with the supermarket chain still weighing options to either sell or repurpose the premises.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: "Regrettably, having thoroughly reviewed all alternatives, we can no longer see a way back to breakeven and have taken the difficult decision to close the remaining facility." The company confirmed that staff members face potential redundancy as a result of the proposal.
The spokesperson added: "We are however fully committed to doing everything we can to help all those affected, including identifying any other suitable roles available elsewhere in the Myton Group”. It should be noted that Morrisons' in-store bakeries will not be impacted by the closure.