Industry Food (Bakery Group) Number of employees ~1500 Founded 1912 | Owner Mr Alexander Birnie Website Sayers Webpage Number of locations 158 | |
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Products Sandwiches, pies and pastries; baked goods | ||
Sayers the Bakers is the largest independent retail baker in the north-west of England, established in 1912 in Liverpool. The retailer sells savouries, sandwiches and bakery products across over 150 stores, from Fleetwood in Lancashire down to Wrexham in Wales. Sayers remained a family run business until 1977 when it was sold to United Biscuits and again to Warburtons in 1990, where it has since undergone several management buyouts.
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History
Sayers was established in 1912 by Fred and Lylian Sayer. Their first kitchen was based in a basement in Prescot Road, Old Swan and this then moved to a second shop in County Road, Walton in 1922.
In 1925, a larger bakery opened on Aintree Road in Bootle. Then in 1931, a further expansion moved the business to a larger location in Lorenzo Drive, Norris Green.
Sayers then remained a family business until 1977 when it was sold to United Biscuits. In 1990, it was sold again to Warburtons, a baking firm based in Bolton. Warburtons also bought Hampsons, Sayer's sister company and other bakeries in their estate included Burneys of Rochdale, Spinks of Sharston, Parkers of Eccles, Burtons of Blackpool.
In 1996, Warburtons then sold all its bakers stores to Lyndale Foods. Then in 1997, the brand was expanded further when the Annes Shops chain of shops were bought from Roberts Bakery in 1997.
In 2006, 183 jobs were lost at the Norris Green, Liverpool site with another 200 jobs going in 2007. On 9 June 2008, parent company the Lyndale Group went into administration and the Norris Green, Liverpool site was closed immediately. The owners of the Lyndale Group (Michael Quinlan and Sandy Birnie) bought Lyndale's Bolton Bakery and the Sayers brand and shops, creating a new business employing 1,500 people. However, the demise of Lyndale caused controversy and was discussed at length in the House of Commons.
In 2017, Sayers were fined £177K over mouse droppings found on pasty, and other breaches of hygienic practice.
Future
Sayers is currently the biggest independent retail baker in the North West and currently has over 150 shops and 25 cafés from Fleetwood in the north to Wrexham in the south, and Rhyl in the west to Halifax in the East.
Some of its shops have now changed into a sister shop, Poundbakery, which sells similar products, but at a lower price.
Products
Sayers sells a range of cakes, savouries, sandwiches, soups and bakery products.