Coopland & Son (Scarborough) Ltd was previously owned by EG Group, which purchased the firm in 2021.
In a statement announcing the deal, Cooplands said that the sale “brings ownership of the operation back to a team of Yorkshire investors”, 140 years after the bakery was founded in the county.
EG Group is a convenience retail firm founded in 2001 by the Issa brothers, who went onto acquire a stake in Asda. They both remain on the board of EG Group.
The management buy in has been led by David Salkeld, who will reassume his role as chair. Salkeld was supported by Paul Coopland, a member of the original Cooplands family, who will return to the organisation as non-executive director.
John Ruddock, who has been with the business for over 20 years, will continue as CEO. while two new executives, John Kitson as chief financial officer and Steph McGinty as HR and transformation director, complete the team.
Cooplands owns and operates two bakeries that manufacture freshly baked products distributed through its supply and logistics network to 154 stores which are predominantly located across the north east and Yorkshire regions.
The bakery was founded by Frederick and Alice Coopland as a pork butcher and pie maker in 1885, and today it currently employs more than 1,400 colleagues.
Commenting on the move, Ruddock said: “It is with genuine pride that we announce today’s purchase, which brings Cooplands back under the management of a locally based team with strong and established knowledge of our organisation, our colleagues, suppliers and customers.
“This gives us the opportunity to focus on strategic growth for the future, whilst preserving the traditional values and excellence for which the brand has been known and respected for over 140 years.”
