Jobs secured as bakery and café rescued from administration

More than 40 jobs have been secured at Sheffield business Forge Bakehouse.

The Sheffield office of insolvency and business turnaround specialist Leonard Curtis was appointed administrator of Forge Bakehouse, which has a café in Abbeydale as well as further outlets in Kelham Island, Beauchief and at Sheffield Railway Station.

But now the company has been restructured with CPLG Ltd at the helm – headed by original Forge Bakehouse owner Craig Guest – with the safeguarding of 47 jobs.

Guest said: “It is absolutely correct that we experienced operational difficulties in the past few months caused in part by the cost of living crisis and rising energy costs but we are now confident that we have placed this difficult period behind us.

“We took the decision to enter into administration and restructure only after looking at all the different routes available and listening to the advice of the Leonard Curtis team.

“It was important to us and we’re proud that we always paid our employees and our suppliers and maintained good relationships even during this extremely difficult period for us.

“Our programme of growth is now set firmly in place and we opened new premises in Lodge Moor in November.

“We are looking forward to further expansion in 2024 and to the creation of even more local jobs.”

Leonard Curtis associate director of restructuring and insolvency Stephen Beverley was appointed administrator along with colleague Ryan Holdsworth.

Beverley said: “This is a great result for the business and for Sheffield, where the Forge Bakehouse brand is extremely well known, and we are particularly pleased that jobs are safe following what could have been a worrying period for the whole workforce.”

Holdsworth added: “I am pleased we’ve been able to reach this conclusion and complete this deal which has secured the bakery, its brand and more than 40 jobs.”

The joint administrators worked with MD Law, agents BPI Asset Advisory and accountants Hebblethwaites.