Popular bakery chain to close ALL sites for good in just days as owner admits ‘it’s impossible to recover’

Loaf MCR founder Aiden Ryan said in a social media statement on April 8: "I’ve made the incredibly tough decision to close Loaf MCR.

“Loaf started in 2020 as a small lockdown idea to raise money for our NHS.

"From baking in a shipping container at Pollard Yard to cafés in Salford and Oxford Road, and even a concession in Selfridges - it grew into something I never could have dreamed of.

"It was fun, bold, unapologetically pink - and full of heart. But behind the scenes, it’s been a really hard year. And I want to be honest about that.

"We were relying on funding that fell through at the last minute - funding that was essential to keeping Loaf sustainable.

"At the same time, we were hit with severely delayed payments and invoices, ever rising costs, and mounting arrears.

"A supplier also took thousands from our account without permission, triggering a financial domino effect that was almost impossible to recover from.

"The cashflow challenges starting May last year meant there were delays in paying important bills, including tips, pension contributions - something I never imagined happening, and something I’ve carried with a huge amount of sadness and guilt.

"These are people who gave so much of themselves to Loaf, and not being able to give them what they were owed on time was one of the hardest parts of all this.

"On top of that, I was facing personal challenges too - and eventually, the pressure became too much.

"I experienced a full mental break. I couldn’t function. And when your business depends on you being “on” 24/7, everything starts to fall apart fast.

"I’m not sharing all this for sympathy, I’m sharing it because I think it’s important to be honest about what running a business really looks like.

"It’s not just wins and Instagrammable moments, sometimes it’s stress, silence, self-doubt, and sacrifice.

"Still, I’m proud. Proud of what Loaf became. Proud of the joy we spread. And proud of myself - not just for building something, but for knowing when to stop and look after myself.

"To my amazing team - you were the heart of Loaf. Your talent, energy and loyalty meant everything to me, and I’ll never forget it.

“To our suppliers, creatives and partners - thank you for the belief, the collaboration, and the shared vision.

“To our customers - thank you for every slice bought, every kind word, every post shared. You kept us going.

“To my friends and family - thank you for lifting me up through it all.

“Our final day of trading will be 30th April. If you fancy one more mini loaf cake, or just want to pop in for a goodbye, we’d love to see you before then.

“As for what’s next... I’m not sure yet. Right now I just know we need rest.

“Time to process, heal, and breathe. Maybe Loaf will come back in a new way one day – but for now, it’s time to close this chapter.

“Thank you for being part of our story. I’ll carry it with me, always. Lots of loaf, Aiden."