British bakery chain
Maison Blanc was a British bakery chain, founded by Raymond Blanc in 1981.[1][2]
History
In May 1999, Lyndale Foods purchased Maison Blanc for £12 million. At this point, it was the UK's second largest bakery chain.[3]
In 2007, Kuwaiti firm Kout Food Group rescued Maison Blanc, as Lyndale Foods began to struggle financially.[4]
In the year ending 31 December 2014, Maison Blanc had reported a loss of nearly £3 million.[5]
Closure
In September 2016, Kout Food Group hired a property agent to carry out a strategic review of the 13 Maison Blanc locations and production facility.[6] In December 2016, there were rumours that rival, Patisserie Valerie, would purchase the chain, but with Kout Food Group retaining the brand name.[7]
In March 2017, the chain was closed by Kout Food Group as they began to withdraw from the UK market, with all locations closed down.[8]
In July 2017, it was announced that Patisserie Valerie would move into four former Maison Blanc locations.[9]
In February 2019, Maison Blanc's former production facility was sold to Joe & Seph's. The office space above had served as the UK headquarters for Kout Food Group since Maison Blanc's closure.[10]
References
