MORE than 1,400 jobs have been saved across the UK as a result of a deal rescuing the company which owns Sayers The Bakers and Poundbakery.

However, an unspecified number of redundancies have been made and 11 stores have been earmarked for closure – just days before Christmas.

In North Wales, Poundbakery has stores in Mold, Holywell, Wrexham, Llandudno, and Rhyl.

The business assets have been acquired by Karen Wood, who has formed a new company called Sayers and Poundbakery Limited, which will be run by the former management team led by Mark James and David Silvester.

The new company will take on the Bakery and Distribution Centre in Bolton and the majority of the Bakers Shops throughout the Northern England, North Wales, Yorkshire and the Midlands including the transfer of approximately 1400 employees.

Sarah O’Toole and Jason Bell of Grant Thornton were appointed joint administrators to Sayers The Bakers Ltd on December 18.

Ms O’Toole, advisory partner at Grant Thornton in Manchester, said: “We are delighted to have concluded the sale which preserves a significant number of jobs at this long-established business.

"Unfortunately, a number of redundancies have been made across 11 closed stores at a particularly difficult time of year and we are doing everything we can to support these employees.”

The management team at Sayers and Poundbakery Ltd, added: “We’d like to wholeheartedly thank the loyal staff, suppliers and customers for their continued support, as we enter into the next stage of this historic brand’s future.”

Whilst all efforts have been made to offer ongoing employment to as many people as possible affected by these closures, and where possible they will be offered the opportunity to work in other nearby locations unaffected by closure, the transaction will result in a number of redundancies.

The shops will continue to be branded as Sayers the Bakers and Poundbakery and are committed to continue to provide excellent quality and value for money to their loyal customers.