A POPULAR bakery chain loved for its biscuits has suddenly shut all of its stores as it begins a “new chapter”.
Plant Blonde announced with a “heavy heart” that its two outlets in the centre of Glasgow, Scotland, had closed.
The vegan business operated a coffee shop in the West End of the city and also had a concession within a giant Lush store in the heart of Glasgow.
Beloved for its Empire biscuits, vibrant cakes, and plant-based dishes and baked goods, Plant Blonde has won a number of awards for its creations.
Owners Jennifer Walls and Marc Sorbie announced the closures in an emotional post on Instagram.
They said: “To our Plant Blonde community – a heartfelt thank you.
“With a heavy heart we announce the closure of both of our current coffee stores in Partick and Lush Glasgow City Centre.
“To our incredible community – thank you for being part of our journey.”
But it’s not all bad news as the chain is currently working on a new studio and bakery which are both close to completion.
The pair’s message continued: “Your support has been instrumental in shaping Plant Blonde, and we’re excited to continue growing in a way that truly aligns with our vision.
“Thank you for the memories, the moments, and the love you have shared with us at both our Partick shop and our store inside Lush Glasgow City.
“It has been a fantastic and fun journey, creating many joyful moments.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Beloved chef to close restaurant for heartbreaking reason” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369483466112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]They added: “Having both stores allowed us to connect with people from all over the world.
“Thank you for making us part of your day, your week, and your trip.”
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D108593%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]The business’ new bakery will focus on creating “plant-based clean cakes using the highest quality seasonal ingredients” for both weddings and other events.
Its message said: “We’re stepping into a new chapter at Plant Blonde, with our new studio nearly complete.
“We are excited to continue creating plant-based clean cakes using the highest quality seasonal ingredients.
“Our brand-new Plant Blonde Studio gives us the space to perfect and elevate our cakes, creating with love and passion for plant-based celebration cakes, bespoke wedding cakes, and event bakes, all while staying true to our core values of sustainability, quality, and conscious living.”
The bakery chain also said it was open to “new opportunities and collaborations” and hopes to create “positive change”.
Plant Blonde opened its Hyndland Street store in 2022, and the Glasgow Times reported that former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon declared its biscuit “the best Empire biscuit I’ve ever tasted” when she visited the shop.
It then opened its second unit inside the Lush flagship store on Buchanan Street in December 2023.
Fans of the bakery wished the business good luck but said they will miss being able to pop in for a biscuit.
One person wrote: “Where can we find the Empires?”
Another said: “Aww I’ll miss popping by for some Empires, but all the best to you both in your new era.”
A third person added: “Best of luck and good fortune for your new journey.”
This comes after a beloved independent cookshop and cafe shut its doors after more than 40 years of operation.
Dinghams Cookshop in Salisbury, Wiltshire, said “unsustainable rising costs” had pushed it to collapse.
Dinghams explained: “Rising costs, changes in consumer habits, and external economic pressures have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the level of service and quality you’ve come to expect from us.”
The cookshop and cafe added: “Despite our best efforts to adapt and find solutions, the combination of these pressures has made it unsustainable for us to continue operating as an independent business.”
