Oddies is set to reopen some of its stores (Image: Getty)
could reopen some stores after being forced to shut.
Oddie’s, founded in 1905 and based in Lancashire, had 13 branches across the east of the county and employed more than 100 staff.
The bakery managed to stay open through the fall of the Lancashire cotton industry, both World Wars, the Great Depression and the pandemic.
However, it was forced to shut up shop in January after facing significant hardships since the pandemic and the “economic slowdown” with rising energy costs and a decline in high street footfall.
The firm previously had “a profound impact on the business’ ability to operate at levels we were accustomed to”.
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The company is based in Nelson, Lancashire (Image: Getty)
But managing director Lara Oddie has now said they could be on the cusp of reopening some stores.
She said: “If negotiations go well and certain recipes change hands, you might see your particular favourite make a reappearance.”
“I worked behind the scenes really hard all last year on a deal and literally three weeks before it was meant to happen, the guy pulled out, which left me with very few options and fewer resources.
“But, since the announcement has been made more public, other people have come out of the woodwork.
“So, I am still negotiating with interested parties behind the scenes and I’ve got everything crossed that maybe seven of my shops would reopen shortly.”
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Ms Oddie added: “We found three of our town centres just didn’t bounce back after , so we struggled in Blackburn, Accrington and Nelson, and they were three high-volume shops for us, and then we went straight into an energy crisis.”
Ms Oddie said a third of the staff had worked for the bakery for more than 20 years “so we are like a family”. She said: “It’s very sad and it’s been heartbreaking for all of us,” she said.
The closure left customers “devastated” with many taking to social media to voice their shock and sadness.
Company bosses had sought a rescue deal late last year to save the firm, however the potential sale “fell through after extensive negotiations”.