As reported by our sister brand British Baker, the supermarket chain had first mulled over plans to shutter the 28,000 sq ft site over a year ago, having failed several times to return it to profitability.
Only three months later it chose instead to reduce the scale of its operations, with a renewed focus on baking specialist products including crumpets, pancakes, naans and pittas.
Operated by Myton Food Group – Morrisons’ manufacturing arm - the closure of the West Yorkshire facility could see as many 115 jobs losses, marking the culmination of months of uncertainty and poor financial performance.
A spokesperson for the group confirmed this week its decision to close the Rathbones Bakery, despite several subsequent attempts at restructuring and slimming down its workforce in a bid to secure the site’s future amid a continually challenged bottom line.
“Since the restructuring of the Rathbones business in early 2025 the team have been working hard to try and build a future for the business as a smaller, more focused supplier of specialist bakery products,” they said.
“Since then, the trading conditions in the bakery market have become even more challenging and despite a tremendous effort by the whole team to develop new markets, volumes and sales have declined significantly, exacerbated by the loss of a large third party customer, with cost increases and the return of inflation also having a significant impact on the competitiveness of the business. As a result, the sales performance has fallen well below that envisaged by the recovery plan, with the business continuing to report significant losses.
They continued: “Regrettably, having thoroughly reviewed all alternatives, we can no longer see a way back to breakeven and have taken the difficult decision to close the remaining facility.
“This proposal does unfortunately mean that colleagues at the site are at risk of redundancy. We are however fully committed to doing everything we can to help all those affected, including identifying any other suitable roles available elsewhere in the Myton Group.”
The original workforce had been cut down by over 200 from 378 to 138 during a drastic round of restructuring last year – with this number having recently fallen even further to the current 115 members of staff, who have now all been notified if the closure plans.
Myton has confirmed that a consultation was launched immediately and that support measures will include identifying suitable transferable roles elsewhere in the company for the remaining Wakefield workers.
Having assured that in-store bakeries at Morrisons will not be affected by the developments, the retailer is yet to make a final decision on whether to sell or repurpose the facility.
