Following a year of record-breaking results in 2024, fast-growing independent Cornish Bakery has announced more successes as it strides into 2025.
Cornish Bakery outperformed much of the market in the second half of 2024 with a 9.7% like-for-like sales growth across existing bakeries, a 26% growth in total sales, six new bakery openings and a strong customer Net Promotor Score (NPS) of 65%, all landing the company a spot in the Interpath Top 100 Fast Growth list of all UK retailers.
Following the most successful-ever opening in Milton Keynes in early December, the company kicked off 2025 with the launch of its new Cirencester bakery. The Cotswold market town and its local residents and community have warmly welcomed their new addition, with Cornish Bakery performing significantly ahead of its target figures yet again within the first few weeks of operation.
The Cirencester opening takes Cornish Bakery’s estate to 66, and the company has today announced that it has six more properties in legals with the locations to be announced in the near future.
Alongside the new opening programme, the company has also implemented a major refurbishment project in five of its key tourism locations. Across just three months, this investment sees bakeries in Totnes, Swanage, Bude, Fowey and Sidmouth receiving full refurbishments and increased seating capacities, all re-opening in the run-up to Easter trading.
Cornish Bakery Managing Director Mat Finch says, “The second half of 2024 saw a flurry of new openings in Nottingham, Taunton, Winchester, Chelmsford, Milton Keynes and Cirencester, and now we are completing on five major refurbishments. It has been so rewarding to witness the customer appetite and enthusiasm for our brand. We’ve currently got another six new bakery locations lined up and will be announcing these soon. Alongside our constantly rising sales and team engagement figures, this all means that 2025 is going to be an exciting year for us.”
Mat continues, “I am also delighted to announce we have just paid another dividend to all qualifying colleagues. This is additional to their half year bonus and we really believe this strengthens our relationships and gives the team a real sense of ownership.”
The company has also doubled down on product innovation. In addition to the much-lauded pistachio croissant, recent new launches have seen an apple crumble scone, a feta & pea tortilla and a sticky toffee pastry. 2025 will see further ongoing new product launches and additions.
Mat Finch says, “All of our growth is driven first and foremost by our unique people-first culture. High team engagement scores and 69% of our vacancies being filled internally shows our dedication to internal progression and reward. With 85% of our bakeries active in their local communities working on charity support and fundraising projects, and accelerated product innovation plans, we’re looking forward to bringing our Cornish Bakery ethos to more locations in prime towns and cities across the country this year.”
