A POPULAR coffeehouse and café which was due to take over a town bakery has pulled out of the deal due to “multiple problems” the firm is “unable to solve”.

Bosses at independent coffee chain Toast, which began in Braintree before expanding along the A12 corridor, has confirmed they are unable to proceed with taking over family-run Weston’s Bakery in Sudbury.

The news comes after months of negotiations in trying to secure the lease, so Toast could refurbish, rebrand and modernise the operation.

In a statement, Toast co-founder Rob Ely said: “In the takeover, multiple things needed to be sorted, including the lease on the bakery building.

“This was either to be renegotiated or the existing lease reassigned.

“We attempted to negotiate a deal that was acceptable by all, led by the fact we were very excited to take on the bakery.

“Our final offer saw us offering, what we believed to be, above and beyond what we should have offered, but this was not deemed sufficient.

“Therefore, it’s with a heavy heart, that we’ve agreed to hand the keys back to Weston’s and for them to continue with their original plan of closing the business down.

“To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We’re completely gutted.

“We were excited at the prospect of the bakery and the opportunities that it created for everyone involved.

“The thought of saving a family bakery and saving a load of jobs in a dying profession, made us proud.

“We still stand by the fact that it was the right thing to do, but due to things that we can’t control, we can’t make it work.”

The move to take over Weston’s Bakery came on July 3, after the bakery ceased trading on July 1 without any prior notice.

Left without a supplier, Toast stepped in, re-employing some of the staff and taking control of the operation, continuing to bake bread for local and wholesale customers.

The statement finished with a heartfelt thank you from Mr Ely, saying: “On behalf of me, Dan, Louis and the incredible team at the bakery, I would like to say it has been a pleasure serving you for this short while and we wish you all the very best for the future ahead.”

Toast will continue to operate Weston’s Bakery until 4pm on Monday, October 9.