London bakery chain closes 48 stores after more than 65 years

A London bakery chain has announced that it will be closing all of its stores permanently after 66 years.

Percy Ingle, a family-owned business, confirmed that its 48 stores, which span London and Essex, will all be closing.

A member of the bakery’s management said that the company would stop trading, but could not provide an exact date or give information on job losses.

Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North tweeted: “Sorry to see a good East End bakery like Percy Ingle’s closing after more than 50 years, especially for all the staff and those who’ve fought to keep it going against the double whammy of high street pressures and now covid-19.”

A petition has been started by customers to save the shop.

Paul Scott, who started the petition, wrote: “Percy Ingle has been a well established bakery with many shops across East London and Essex since 1954.

“They have now decided to close all of their branches which have been a valuable asset to our area for many decades.

“We need to still preserve them as good quality bakery shops as otherwise they would all become empty and be turned into low quality retail units or betting shops that would not benefit our community.

“Smaller companies like Percy Ingle also give local areas such as East London and Essex more of their own individual retail identity and character which is worthy of preservation as well for social and cultural reasons.”