AN iconic village bakery has announced its “very sad” closure after 155 years.
Palmers Bakery, in Stanton near Bury St Edmunds, has confirmed the branch will shut its doors in just weeks.
The popular bakery will pull down the shutters for the final time on Saturday, March 22.
Palmers has been running for over a century and confirmed it is the only shop affected.
The chain has other shops in Haughley, Stowmarket and Woolpit which will remain open, said the owners.
The bakery has been passed down through several generations of the Palmer family.
It continues to use ancient brick ovens to bake the bread and cakes.
Kieron Palmer, director of the family bakery told East Anglian Daily Times: “Unfortunately it not our choice.
“The leaseholders had a change in circumstances and need to sell the shop.
“It is very sad but our other shops in Haughley, Stowmarket and Woolpit will remain open, it is only the Stanton shop closing.”
Fans of the bakery took to social media to voice their frustration at the closure.
One said it was a “sad end” while another wrote that the shop “would be missed”.
It comes as another bakery may reopen some of its stores after it was forced to close all of its locations and let 100 employees go.
The business is renowned for its traditional bread, savoury pastries, and sweet treats.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Much-loved bakery chain to close all locations for good” 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=”6354165169112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]The baked goods chain – established in 1905 and run by the same family ever since – managed to stay open through both World Wars, the Great Depression and the Covid pandemic.
Founded at the start of the 20th century by William Henry Oddie, the chain operates 13 stores in locations including Burnley, Colne, Foulridge, Nelson, Padiham, and Todmorden, alongside a central bakery in Nelson.
But managing director Lara Oddie has shown hope that negotiations may result in a return for the beloved franchise.
Elsewhere, another company faced a similar fate amid a sting of closures.
Copland Family Bakers shut the doors to both its stall on Great Yarmouth’s market and shop in nearby Gorleston after 57 years.
Meanwhile, Greggs has left customers “nearly crying” after revealing it’s set to close one of its branches.
The popular pastry and sandwich chain will pull down the shutters of one of its Cambridge stores in just over a month’s time.
The Greggs store on Fitzroy Street will close its doors for the last time on March 31.
The shop is set to shut as part of the Greggs estate strategy, which will see the chain open more stores this year.
Greggs has around 2,500 branches in the UK, including more than ten in Cambridgeshire.
Fans of the fast food chain took to social media to voice their frustration at the closure.