Mark’s Bread joins Tobacco Factory family

After 11+ years of bread-making and continuous growth at Mark’s Bread, Mark and Maria are hanging up their aprons and handing over the business to Tobacco Factory Enterprises.

When we decided to sell on, our main objectives were to ensure that the bakery continued in much the same form and to protect the jobs of our talented staff team. We would only sell to a buyer who would understand our business ethos, maintain and build on it and had good local knowledge. It has become apparent via customer feedback over the years that the bakery is a valued part of the local community, more than just a shop. Increasingly people are valuing local, ethical outlets for goods and services and in the current climate this will only be more so.

Then along came George Fergurson of Tobacco Factory and Five Acre Farm with an offer and we couldn’t have found a better set-up to continue with Mark’s Bread. We have worked with Tobacco Factory in a number of ways over the years and understand each other well. The knitting together of Five Acre Farm Shop and Mark’s Bread is a perfect symbiosis. Mark and I have been working with their management staff for some months to ensure a seamless transfer and to ensure no observable changes from a customer point of view.

It is with a sense of relief and excitement that we are moving on. Relief that the new owners couldn’t be a better fit and excitement to see where the business goes from here. We will also be appreciating more time with friends and family when we can and a couple of morning lie-ins!

A huge thank you to all our supporters over the years and we wish Tobacco Factory the best of luck. We will see you in the bread queue now and then for an olive sourdough and a perfect cappuccino!

A note from George and the Five Acre Farm team…

It has been great to have developed our local food enterprises alongside Mark’s Bread over the past decade. We share Mark & Maria’s ethos and remain happy customers – it is a a tough time for everyone but we love their products and are delighted that they have entrusted us with its future. We are fortunate to be taking on a great bakery team which continues under the leadership of head baker Rosana Sanchez Fernández.