THE owner of a long-standing Colchester bakery has said he is excited to see a new site finally open after confirming the upcoming opening date.
Blackberry Bakery, in Stanway, has been in existence for more than 48 years.
It is hugely popular with residents across the city and has been operating under the ownership of Anthony Gazda for the last 12 years.
The business, in Blackberry Road, confirmed plans to open a new bakery in Marks Tey last year at the former Daizy's Too site.
Due to delays, the site has not yet opened, leading many residents to wonder if it ever actually would.
Mr Gazda, however, has now revealed the new site is still going ahead and is scheduled to open late this month.
He said: “February 26 is the official opening date.
“It will be run by London Road Bakery, but we will be supplying them with all their goods.
“We had some delays but finally got the keys in December and have started doing some work.
“We are just waiting for the final few items and we will open later this month.”
Mr Gazda moved from Poland to the UK in 2004 before settling in Colchester and working as a baker at The Food Company for seven years.
In addition to Blackberry Bakery, the baker also oversees a 5,000 sq ft bakery in the Hythe.
Since taking over the business it 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.
His strong workforce supplies freshly baked bread to more than 500 wholesale customers and will produce products for the new London Road shop.
Mr Gazda said the business is enjoying a lot of success and he looks forward to the new site opening.
“The business is doing very well," he added.
"We supply the most prestigious customers around Essex and Suffolk.
“It will be good to see the new site open.
“We are a custom bakery and very flexible on customer’s orders.
“Basically, we can bake nearly anything the customers wants to get, and our best seller is an extra-long sandwich tin used for afternoon tea.”
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