An award-winning bakery has been praised for coming to the rescue of town centres in North Wales.
Elfyn Llwyd, the MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, was speaking after he officially opened the new Gerrards shop in Bala.
It is one of six stores taken over by Gerrards, Wales’ oldest family craft bakers, a few months ago following the demise of the Eccleston’s bakery when the owner David Eccleston retired.
The other re-branded former Eccleston’s stores are in Corwen, Llangollen, Chirk, Gresford and Wrexham.
It means that Wrexham-based Gerrards, established in 1838 and being run by the sixth generation of the family, now has a total of 15 shops across North Wales and the Wirral.
According to directors Dirk and Dawn van Rensburg, they’re planning to create around 30 new jobs at their new stores and are looking at the possibility of further expansion.
Instead of cutting a ribbon, Mr Llwyd cut a specially baked celebration cake to mark the occasion.
He said: “It was a big disappointment when Eccleston’s closed down because every business on the High Street is important.
“The look of a town changes and people worry when they see empty shops. This was a huge vote of confidence by Gerrards in Bala and the other towns where they have opened the new shops.
“The people of Bala are coming here in droves and it’s great that the shop been taken over by a company with a tradition and a track record that dates back over 150 years.
“They know their business and they know what to offer their customers – they are definitely not a flash in the pan.
“Gerrards are here to stay and we very much welcome the investment they have made in Bala.
“I know that I speak on behalf of the town’s Chamber of Trade and the whole area in saying how pleased we are that Gerrards have come to Bala.
“It has given the whole town a boost and I am sure it will give others confidence to invest here.
“This is a clear sign that Bala is open for business and I was delighted to be invited to officially open the re-born shop under its new ownership.”
Among the staff taken on in Bala is Gwenan Roberts who previously worked for Eccleston’s and has come back as shop manageress.
She said: “It was a great shame when Eccleston’s closed down.Everybody suffered so when Gerrards took the shop over it was a cause for celebration.
“Gerrards is completely different to Eccleston’s – the pies and pasties are cooked fresh here in the shop.
“They are a long established company but they obviously have the recipe for success.”
Mrs van Rensburg was delighted with the response to the completely refurbished shop in Bala.
She said: “We are extremely grateful for the warm welcome we have received from local people.
“We also really appreciated the fact that Mr Llwyd took time out of his busy schedule to officially open the shop.”
