Twenty-five Coughlans Bakery shops could soon be reopened as the majority of the company’s business and assets have been bought by Janes Bakery Limited.
Coughlans, which was founded in 1937, ceased trading on 1 July 2026, resulting in the redundancy of over 170 employees and closure of 31 sites across south London, Surrey, Kent, and West Sussex. These were supplied from its 25,000 sq ft production site in Thornton Heath.
Managing director Sean Coughlan said various factors contributed to the decision to enter voluntary liquidation, including the latest hikes to National Insurance contributions and minimum wage, business rates, and a rise in monthly fuel bills as a result of the ongoing war in Iran.
The business entered…