Major Bakery Chain Launches Largest Store on A12
Two Magpies has taken over Marlesford farm café and shop on the A12 and will reopen after a rebrand and facelift. The site is scheduled to open on March 26. Owner Steve Magnall is joined by his son Ben as the business moves into a second generation.
Site and offering
The Marlesford Farm Shop and Café sits near Woodbridge. It offers 80 seats indoors and 50 outdoors.
The venue will continue serving locally sourced breakfasts and lunches. The farm shop will focus on quality local produce and artisan goods.
Staff and suppliers
All 21 existing Marlesford staff have transferred to Two Magpies. The new outlet will feature local producers such as Fen Farm Dairy, Lane Farm charcuterie and Pinneys seafood.
The owners say they will retain top suppliers and showcase regional firms. They expect the location to attract both visitors and A12 travellers looking for fresh bread and food.
Business scale and operations
Two Magpies is a major bakery chain with an annual turnover of about £10.5 million. The group employs roughly 200 people.
Steve Magnall described Marlesford as the company’s biggest site to date. Management expects turnover at the new site to rise over time.
Production and logistics
Main production happens at Walpole near Halesworth. That facility received about a £900,000 upgrade when it became the main bakery operation.
The bakery supplies 11 cafés. Locations include Southwold, Aldeburgh, Framlingham, Norwich, Blakeney, Holt, Woodbridge, Wells-next-the-Sea, Beccles and Darsham.
Growth and strategy
Two Magpies aims to open additional outlets while controlling borrowing. The owners plan one more opening this year after Marlesford.
They expect group turnover to grow by about 25 percent this year. Historically, a Two Magpies opening can increase local footfall by roughly seven percent.
Leadership and succession
Steve fully owns the business and has led expansion since joining a few years after its 2013 start in Southwold. He previously ran St Peter’s Brewery and worked at Greene King.
Ben, 32, returned from London and officially joined the business on March 23. He worked in strategy at Sony Sports and plans to bring corporate skills into the family firm.
Local connections and recent moves
The company moved its headquarters from Darsham to Framlingham. Office space above the bakery now serves as the new HQ.
Darsham will host a new farm shop this summer by dairy farmer Jonny Crickmore. The business also owns Hilton Macarons and runs a bake school at Darsham.
Long-term ambitions
The group says it wants to grow sustainably and ultimately reach about 50 sites. For now, the focus is careful expansion and improved customer experience.
With the Marlesford opening, the major bakery chain will launch its largest store on the A12. The owners hope it becomes a regional destination for locals and travellers.
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