Future of Ainsleys bakers remains unclear (From York Press)

Future of Ainsleys bakers remains unclear

8:30am Tuesday 9th February 2010

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BUYERS have been found for most outlets of Yorkshire-based bakery business Ainsleys.

A team of restructuring and corporate finance specialists at Grant Thornton’s Leeds office has brokered deals to save most of the 285 jobs at the firm, but the fate of one branch in York and two in Harrogate remains unclear.

Ainsleys became another victim of the economic downturn when it went into administration on November 6.

Under the deals Leeds-based Countrystyle Foods has bought the Ainsleys bakery business and name, while 20 of the firm’s 29 leasehold retail outlets have been sold, split evenly between Cooplands of Scarborough and Cooplands of Doncaster.

But a spokeswoman for Grant Thornton said: “Talks are continuing so at this stage we cannot say which of the outlets will stay and which will go, although we will make an announcement later."

It means that at this stage uncertainty still reigns at the bakery’s outlets in Bridge Street, York and in Cambridge Street and Leeds Road, Harrogate.

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