Yorkshire bakery business acquired from EG Group
The new ownership structure prioritizes strategic growth, operational excellence, and preservation of the traditional values that have defined Cooplands for over 140 years.
UK – Coopland & Son (Scarborough) Ltd, the iconic Yorkshire bakery business, has been reacquired from EG Group by a management buy-in (MBI) led by a local team of Yorkshire investors and management, marking a significant return of the historic company to local ownership.
Founded in 1885 by Frederick and Alice Coopland, Cooplands has grown into the UK’s second-largest bakery chain, with over 154 stores predominantly located across Yorkshire and the North East, and employing more than 1,400 people.
The acquisition, announced in early October 2025, brings Cooplands back under the leadership of individuals deeply familiar with its heritage, culture, suppliers, and customers.
David Salkeld, chairman and key figure in the buy-in, reassumes his role, supported by family member Paul Coopland as non-executive director.
The new ownership structure prioritizes strategic growth, operational excellence, and preservation of the traditional values that have defined Cooplands for over 140 years.
Cooplands operates two bakeries that produce fresh-baked goods, which are distributed across its store network thanks to a robust supply and logistics system.
Despite recent financial challenges, including widening post-tax losses reported in 2023, the business focused on bolstering its product quality and expanding its customer base.
EG Group, which acquired Cooplands in 2021 with the intention of integrating the bakery chain into its convenience and forecourt retail business, has strategically divested the bakery to narrow its focus on its core fuel, grocery, and retail segments. While EG Group’s initial plan to expand Cooplands into its petrol forecourts and retail convenience sites was only partly realized, the sale is welcomed as a positive move allowing Cooplands to refocus with dedicated local leadership.
Partners at the advisory firm Walker Morris, including Richard Naish who led the corporate team, emphasized the pride in facilitating the transaction, highlighting the alignment of experienced leadership, local knowledge, and a vision for sustainable growth as key ingredients for Cooplands’ future success.
John Ruddock, CEO of Cooplands, expressed genuine pride in the acquisition, underscoring the opportunity to strengthen the business’s longstanding tradition of quality and community connection while driving growth in a competitive bakery market.
This ownership transition is seen as a pivotal moment that returns Cooplands to its Yorkshire roots, with optimism for renewed growth driven by local expertise and strategic focus, ensuring the bakery’s continued presence as a beloved staple in the region’s food landscape.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
