Up to 25 former Coughlans sites could reopen under new owner Janes Bakery

Coughlans Bakery has been bought by Gloucestershire-based Janes Bakery Limited after the family-run chain closed all 31 of its shops earlier this summer.

The acquisition, which was completed for an undisclosed price, could see up to 25 of the former Coughlans sites reopen under the Janes brand.

It remains unclear which of the remaining locations will stay permanently closed following the sale.

The deal offers a potential route back into trading for parts of a business that had operated across the South-East for almost 90 years.

Former Coughlans employees have been invited to apply for positions with Janes Bakery, potentially providing an opportunity for some of the 170 staff who lost their jobs following the chain's collapse.

Coughlans ceased trading on July 1 after entering voluntary liquidation, bringing an end to the operation of all 31 of its shops.

The chain had branches across Surrey, south London, Sussex and Kent, including locations in Croydon, Epsom, Horsham, Reigate and Crawley.

The business had been a fixture on local high streets since 1937, when the family-run bakery began trading.

Its closure came after a period of expansion that had included the opening of new stores, before the business entered liquidation earlier this year.

Former employees were reportedly informed of their redundancies by text message following the decision to close the shops.

Former owner Sean Coughlan previously attributed the collapse to rising fuel costs and changes to National Insurance contributions introduced by the Government.

Mr Coughlan said the impact of the changes had been particularly difficult after what he described as a strong March and a period of growth during the previous year.

He said: "This has affected us more than we could have ever imagined, which is so devastating as March was a fantastic month, as was a lot of last year with our growth with new stores, but as soon as April's new Government rules on NI, wages and rates hit, it instantly hit the high street."

Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who took a joint ownership stake in the bakery in December 2024, also expressed his disappointment after learning that the chain was closing.

The chain's sale to Janes Bakery now provides the possibility of some of its former shops returning to operation, with the new owner planning to assess which locations are viable.

David Davies, chief executive of Janes Bakery, said the company recognised the importance of Coughlans to the communities where it operated.

He said: "Coughlans has been part of local life for generations. When shops close suddenly, the impact is felt by staff, loyal customers and the wider high street.

"Our job now is to move quickly but responsibly: reopen viable shops under the Janes name, welcome former Coughlans' colleagues to reapply as we go, and bring the operating discipline of a heritage baker to a much-loved local bakery estate."

The acquisition was handled by liquidators Paul Bailey and Kirren Keegan of BABR, who were appointed following Coughlans' entry into voluntary liquidation.

Mr Bailey said identifying a buyer capable of reopening as many of the former sites as possible had been a priority following the appointment of his firm.

He said: "Coughlans served communities across the South-East for almost 90 years, and its closure was a difficult outcome for the employees, customers and suppliers who supported the business over that time."

Janes Bakery's acquisition means up to 25 of the former Coughlans locations could now return to trading, although the company has not confirmed which individual sites will reopen or when they will begin operating under the Janes name.

Former Coughlans employees have been invited to reapply for roles as the new owner works through its plans for the sites.

The sale therefore leaves the future of the remaining former Coughlans shops uncertain, while Janes Bakery begins the process of determining which locations can reopen.

For customers who relied on the bakery chain across Surrey, south London, Sussex and Kent, the acquisition could see some of the familiar high street sites return under a different name.