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| 10 Torriesdale Street |
In
1924 Hugh Bradford with his sons, William and Hugh, established
Bradford's Bakers, with a small shop in Niddrie Road.
The business was transferred to Nithsdale Road, during the
1930s
where it remained until
December 1969 when
Bradford's
Bakers sold their Nithsdale Road premises (now William Hills) and the third generation
grandson of the founder, Hugh Robert Bradford and his wife Helen,
started afresh by opening a small shop at 10 Torrisdale Street with
only three employees.
The quality and range of goods was increased and a wide variety of
bread was introduced, with wedding cakes becoming a particular
speciality.
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| Bradfords Nithsdale Road |
In
1984, Bradfords opened its first city centre shop in Cambridge
Street, Glasgow, incorporating chocolates and a tearoom service
alongside its traditionally bakery shop.
The
business quickly outgrew the premises at Torrisdale Street and so the
bakery was moved to new premises in Giffnock. From here the company
grew to supplying a total of 9 retail outlets
By
1982
the shortage of space had become so acute it became necessary to move
again. This time to the present 2 acre site at the Waterfall Bakery..
In 1984
the company opened its first City Centre shop, in Cambridge Street,
taking the opportunity to expand the range further to include hand
made chocolates and also opening a separate tearoom.
In
1989
their
flagship shop was moved from Cambridge Street to Sauchiehall Street
taking over the former Sir Hugh Fraser's department store. Tat
the time, the site
was
the
largest artisan bakers shop in the United Kingdom situated on three
floors and occupying over 5,500 square feet of retail space.
The
business opened a new expanded bakery in 1993 to supplying their 12
retail outlets all within the Glasgow area, including the one at 10
Torriesdale Street.
In
January
1998
the
company launched
a new associated company - Miss Cranstons Tearooms but
the company had perhaps expanded themselves too fast and in 2011 they
came close to liquidation after HM Revenue and Customs attempted
through the courts to have the business wound down.
It
was clear from the Strathbungo shop that the company was facing
financial difficulties and on Glasgow Fair Friday, 12th
July 2013 the company still owned by Helen Bradford and her daughter
Claire Bradford appointed Grainger Corporate as liquidators.
In
a statement, Bradfords said it was "with great sadness"
that its retail branches had now closed.
It
said: "We would like to thank all of our customers and employees
for their loyal support over the years.
"It
has been a pleasure to serve the Glasgow public through our branches,
but we regret that due to the impact of increasing costs and adverse
trading conditions we were unable to continue despite our best
efforts following action from creditors.
"In
keeping with our desire to provide the best possible service to
customers, we will be contacting all those who have placed an order
with us so that we may either fulfil the order, or provide a refund.
"Bradfords
Gift Website and The Bakery ATM will continue to trade and are not
affected by the branch closures."
