Butterwick to shutter 12 of its 14 branches as costs rise 

Butterwick, a chain of 14 bakeries, has announced that it will close all but two of its stores, amid rising costs and a slowdown in customer spending. 

In a post on Facebook, the bakery’s owners, Fiona and Ryan Scarborough, confirmed with “deep regret” that only its Rushden Lakes and Northampton St Giles locations would remain open. 

The owners said that a rise in operating costs and “significant changes” in customer spending habits have “left us unable to sustain the business in its current form”.

They added that cakes will be made as planned for those with celebration or wedding cake orders, please don’t worry, and if a customer’s chosen collection store is no longer open, they will “be in touch directly to make alternative arrangements”.

All loyalty points and gift cards will also remain valid and fully redeemable in the Rushden Lakes and Northampton St Giles stores.

In the statement, they said: “We are heartbroken for the impact this has on our incredible team members, who have worked with such passion and dedication to deliver the warm, welcoming Butterwick experience that so many of you have come to love. We are immensely proud of every one of them and deeply grateful for their commitment.

“Looking ahead, however, this is not the end of Butterwick – it’s the beginning of an exciting new chapter. By focusing on Rushden and Northampton, we will be returning to our roots: an authentic in-store bakery experience where craft, freshness, and creativity come first.”

They added: “We’ll be bringing back some of our most loved original products, creating lots of new ones, and giving our menus a big upgrade – from handcrafted drinks to freshly made sandwiches. Our goal is to deliver the very best of Butterwick: indulgent, high-quality treats and a coffeehouse experience our communities can be proud of.

“We would like to sincerely thank all of our loyal customers for your support over the years. Your kindness, encouragement, and love for what we do have meant the world to us. We can’t wait to welcome you into our Rushden and Northampton stores to share everything we’ll be working on.”