A LONG-STANDING Colchester bakery business has been put up for sale just weeks after announcing it will open a new store elsewhere in the city.
Blackberry Bakery, in Stanway, has officially hit the market with an asking price of about £125,000.
The business has been in existence for more than 48 years and has been operating under the ownership of Anthony Gazda for the last 12 years.
Speaking to The Gazette, Mr Gazda said the listing has come after the bakery has decided to "change the concept of the business".
He said: “We are soon opening a store in Marks Tey, which will be a ''grab and go store''.
“Secondly, our wholesale side is developing at a very dynamic pace and we are focusing on this.
“Our customer base is 517 wholesale customers and is growing every week.”
The listing says there is a "huge opportunity to continue to grow revenue", with the premises once previously licensed, which allowed for extended opening hours.
This could be re-licensed once the necessary applications and planning had been submitted.
The listing continues: “It has a simplified menu including full English breakfasts, omelettes, baguettes, paninis, wraps, bagels, sandwiches, soups, salads, jacket potatoes, cakes, sweets, hot and cold drinks, real fruit smoothies, blended cream frappes and milkshakes along with mixed iced coffee."
Blackberry Bakery is up for sale for an asking price of £125,000, which includes furniture, fixtures, inventory and stock.
The sale comes just weeks after the business confirmed plans to open a new bakery site in Marks Tey.
Mr Gazda’s planning application was submitted to Colchester Council after the previous occupier, womenswear boutique Daizy’s Too, announced its closure.
Despite several customers of nearby sandwich shop Jane’s Pantry, which is just three doors away, writing to the planning authority to oppose the plans, it was given the go-ahead by the council.
Mr Gazda, 43, moved from Poland to the UK in 2004 before settling in Colchester and working as a baker at The Food Company for seven years.
Since taking over Blackberry Bakery the business has grown from strength to strength, shifting its baking operation to Whitehall Industrial Estate to make way for a café area at the Blackberry Road site.
Mr Gazda added: “We will regret this store but we made the right decision to sell it.
“We believe that a new person who buys the shop will put more time and energy into it which we dont have it.
“We personally cannot be everywhere at the same time. this is our biggest problem.
“If anyone is interested in purchasing our store, please contact us directly.”
To view the listing visit bit.ly/3ROJJ2s.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel