A BELOVED family run bakery has abruptly ceased trading after almost 60 years as price increases bite.
Copland Family Bakers has shut the doors to both its stall on Great Yarmouth’s market and shop in nearby Gorleston after 57 years.
The Great Yarmouth Mercury reported that a sign posted to the shop said: “We would like to thank all our customers for their continued support and loyalty over these difficult years.
“Unfortunately due to today’s continued price rises and economy etc, we have had to close our doors after 57 years of trading.”
The bakery’s fans in the seaside towns have expressed their disappointment at its closure.
One said: “So sad to see them go.”
Another added: “Very sad.”
Closures have been seen amongst both independent retailers and high street chains already in 2025.
And, Copland is not the first bakery to be impacted.
Oddie’s bakery last week revealed it would close all its stores for good – putting 100 people out of work.
The beloved family-run chain, founded in 1905, was famed for its freshly-baked loaves and crisp pastry pies.
A spokesman confirmed it would close 16 sites and added: “Like all businesses, cost pressures have continued to escalate, not least through the energy crisis which has depleted much of the company’s reserves.“
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”The Body Shop to close seven stores immediately” 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=”6353093424112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Other closures
Plenty of other retailers are closing stores across the country’s high streets as households lean towards online shopping.
Businesses have also been impacted by high business rates and cost pressures and are anticipating a dramatic increase in employment costs from April.
Soaring inflation in recent years has also dented shoppers’ pockets.
The Centre for Retail Research’s latest analysis suggests 13,479 stores, the equivalent of 37 each day, shut for good in 2024.
Fashion chain Monki, owned by H&M, has announced it will close all of its high street stores with one in Arndale, Manchester having shut yesterday.
The Body Shop is pulling down the shutters on five branches on January 15 in Exeter, Plymouth, Horsham, Norwich and Sheffield.
Three other branches have already closed in Cambridge and Hove.
Stationer WHSmith is closing a branch in Bournemouth on January 15.
The Entertainer, which has 160 branches across the UK, has also confirmed it will permanently shutter its branch in Croydon’s Whitgift shopping centre.
[authenticated-scripts src=”%3Cscript%20class%3D%22palin-poll%22%20src%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesun.co.uk%2Fpollingwidgets%2Fv3%2Fwidget.js%3Fquestion_id%3D102402%26game%3Dpolling%22%3E%3C%2Fscript%3E” type=”embedded” width=”100″ /]And, Menkind, which sells everything from toys to technology, will close down its branch in Kingfisher shopping centre in Redditch just three months after opening.
All in all, the Centre for Retail Research estimates more stores will close this year than last.
It predicts around 17,350 sites could close for good, made up of around 14,660 independent shops.
Recent years have already seen huge numbers of closures in towns.
For example, Homebase crashed into administration in November, but it was partially rescued by billionaire Chris Dawson who owns The Range and Wilko.
He is looking to retain up to 70 stores and save 1,600 jobs, however, closing down sales are appearing in stores all across the country.
To find out if a Homebase is closing near you, go on the retailer’s website and use the store locator.