Popular bakery chain to close ALL sites for good tomorrow as owner admits ‘it’s impossible to recover’
A POPULAR bakery chain will no longer serve customers as it shuts its doors for the final time tomorrow.
Loaf MCR, which opened in 2020 as a lockdown idea, has had to close as the owner cited financial difficulties.
Its three sites across Greater Manchester will close for good after April 30, following “cashflow challenges” since last year.
Founder of Loaf, Aiden Ryan, took to social media to share the news: “I’ve made the incredibly tough decision to close Loaf MCR.
“It was fun, bold, unapologetically pink and full of love.
“But behind the scenes, it’s been a really tough year – and I want to be honest about that.”
The business started during the pandemic, as a small project for Aiden and his partner to raise money for the NHS.
First from a shipping container at Pollard Yard, Loaf expanded to have two more cafes in Manchester.
Known for its bright pink interior, the cafe chain was popular for people in the local area to grab a sweet treat.
It sold a range of lavish baked goods, from croissants, cakes, banana splits and coffees.
Aiden also candidly shared his announcement: “We were relying on funding that fell through at the last minute – funding that was essential to keeping Loaf sustainable.
“At the same time, we were hit with severely delayed payments and invoices, ever rising costs, and mounting arrears.”
He added: “On top of that, I was facing huge personal challenges – and eventually, the pressure became too much.”
The news attracted an influx of support from the community, with one person commenting on his post: “So sorry to hear this Aiden, this is a loss that will definitely be hard to take.
“I only hoped I could’ve stopped by some more.”
Another young aspiring baker shared his condolences: “I’m 17 and just starting my own food business – what you built with Loaf is genuinely inspiring.
“Wishing you nothing but the best for whatever comes next.”
Loaf MCR is among a number of bakery chains that have had to close down recently due to financial struggles.
This news comes just a month after beloved family bakery Butter Wouldn’t Melt in Cheshire also devastated fans by closing its doors.