Bakery buys comedian's former sites after closure

Bakeries once run by an 89-year-old chain part-owned by comedian Romesh Ranganathan will reopen under a new name after the sites were sold.

Coughlans Bakery, which had shops in Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and south London, announced it had ceased trading in June, blaming high business rates and increases in employers' national insurance contributions.

Bakery business Janes Pantry, based in Gloucestershire, said it had acquired a number of Coughlans' shops from the liquidators, and would open 20 shops under its own brand.

Former staff from Coughlans will be invited to reapply for roles at the reopened sites, it added.

The bakery said: "Every shop that reopens means jobs restored, a unit back in use and footfall returning to the high street, which we believe serves everyone's interests: ours, theirs and the wider local economy's."

Other sites within the Coughlan's estate are subject to further discussions, it added.

Crawley-born Ranganathan, who is vegan, initially became involved with the business because of its range of plant-based products, but will not be involved in the new venture.

He previously said he was "gutted" the chain had closed.

Former managing director Sean Coughlan had said increases in employers' national insurance contributions and high business rates "absolutely smashes local business".

Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell subsequently defended the change, saying it was needed to "spend more and invest in our public services".

Janes Pantry first opened in Gloucester in 1971, and currently runs 12 shops employing more than 100 staff, the bakery said.

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