Duo take over historic kosher bakery after £343K funding deal
Greater Manchester’s oldest and largest kosher bakery State Fayre has come under new ownership thanks to funding from NatWest worth £343,000.
New owners Jonathan Fagleman and Isaac Stefansky have now embarked on expansion plans and will hire new employees to add to the bakery’s 20-strong staff at the Oldham-headquartered firm.
Although the new owners aim to develop the business, they will continue to prioritise the long legacy of the nationally recognised bakery, which first began serving the public in 1905.
The original owners, the Rosenfeld family, came to Manchester from Poland and have passed down the bakery and its traditions through several generations.
Fagleman and Stefansky say they will retain the authentic ingredients and unique style of the State Fayre Bakery, and focus on the traditional foods for which the business is best known.
The bakery specialises in the production of traditionally baked kosher breads and cakes, which can be bought from two deli and coffee shop locations in the city.
State Fayre also claims to be the only kosher bakery to have a supermarket presence, with many of its products sold in Sainsbury’s, including challah, bagels and kichel.
The company previously represented the North West on the ITV show Britain’s Best Bakery, in 2013.
Director Fagleman said “While we now plan to grow and improve State Fayre, we will maintain the ingredients, techniques and styles that have made it popular for the past 100 years, and look forward to serving customers for many years to come.”
State Fayre was introduced to NatWest by Russell Halter of Heritage Mortgages and NatWest business development manager Paul Mak.
NatWest relationship manager Steven Darbyshire said: “State Fayre Bakery is well known and loved for its century-old links to the city. Jonathan and Isaac have made strides in developing the business and creating local jobs, creating a strong platform from which the business will prosper for the next 100 years.”
