A BackWerk store in Groningen, the Netherlands | Photo credit: Jannick Nijholt

German bakery-café chain BackWerk is seeking franchise partners to facilitate a UK relaunch.
 

The Berlin-based business, owned by Swiss foodservice group Valora, currently operates 330 outlets in Germany alongside over 75 sites across neighbouring Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. 

BackWerk previously entered the UK in 2014 as Bake & Take – a venture managed by franchise partners Robin Page and Steve Mahon. However, after opening several sites in Manchester and outlining ambitious plans for 100 UK sites, the business ceased operations in 2018. 

The bakery-café chain is now working with London-based consultancy Whitespace Partners Ltd to find a master franchisee or multi-unit franchise partners. BackWerk sees potential to open 150 sites in the UK, primarily focused on high-footfall shopping centres, travel hubs and city centres. 

“We have proven the BackWerk success story in our home market and neighbouring countries and see a huge opportunity in the UK, given the value for money offering BackWerk brings to the table,” said Sebastian Kayser, CEO of Food Service B2C, Valora. 

Founded in 2001, Backwerk was acquired by Valora in September 2017 for €190m ($204m). 

In April 2023, Valora began revamping select BackWerk stores as part of plans to elevate the brand from a primarily self-serve, value-focused proposition to a ‘higher quality’ and healthier operator. Alongside a more premium-focused bakery menu, the upgraded BackWerk store format also features espresso coffee machines, juice bars and a soup counter. 

Valora’s other foodservice brands include Swiss coffee chain Caffè Spettacolo, fast-food operator Frittenwerk and the pretzel chains Brezelkönig and Ditsch.