Beloved Yorkshire-born bakery Cooplands may soon be popping up in petrol and service stations across the UK, following news that the brand has sold to entrepreneurs Zuber and Mohsin Issa - who also bought Asda last year.
Huge expansion plans have been announced for the chain as part of the acquisition deal, which sees the UK's second-largest bakery chain snapped up by the Mancunian Issa brother's EG Group.
Known for their petrol and service stations, the brothers used the EG Group to acquire CS Food Groups Holdings Limited, which operates as Cooplands.
Through this group, Cooplands owns and operates three bakeries that produce its fresh products before they are distributed to a network of 180 stores and cafes across Yorkshire and the northeast.
Cooplands opened a store in Yeadon, Leeds in September but after their acquisition with EG Group, it is expected the bakery brand will travel further across the UK. Image: Cooplands Bakery
Cooplands has come a long way since its 1885 debut as a pork butcher and pie maker. The business now has over 170 shops and twelve cafes across Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and the northeast but this number is only set to expand over the month months.
In a statement regarding the takeover, EG Group said that Cooplands "complement EG Group’s extensive food service brand portfolio, including popular third-party brands such as Starbucks, KFC and Subway".
The "transaction will provide a platform to diversify the Cooplands brand into the transient petrol forecourt and retail convenience store channel, alongside the bakery chain’s traditional store formats, through EG Group’s extensive UK network".
The acquisition also promises to ensure that the fresh food remains at the forefront of Cooplands' image so that they can continue "to satisfy existing customers and attract new ones".
The assurance of remaining an authentic, individual brand should mirror the approach taken regarding the management of other recent EG Group acquisitions, including popular restaurant chain LEON in May 2021.
Cooplands was previously backed by BGF, however this new acquisition from EG Group marks the end of BGF's involvement in the bakery chain.
Although there is no set time frame for the introduction of Cooplands in EG stores, we can only imagine that we will be seeing Yorkshire's finest baked goods in petrol and service stations, amongst other stores in the near future.
Silver's Bakehouse is finally here, and it's just as fabulous as we'd hoped.
Just when you thought Leeds’ favourite sandwich spot couldn't get any better, they go and open a bakery.
Silver's Bakehouse has opened its beautiful pastel green doors today over in Farsley to queues of excited fans eager to get their first taste.
So, what's on offer at Silver's Bakehouse?
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Well, as masterminds of the almighty sandwich you'll be happy to know you can still get one here. However, their iconic sub sarnies have had an Italian makeover and are now served in fresh, springy sourdough which is baked onsite.
Elsewhere on the menu you'll find brown butter buttermilk brownies (try saying that three times), a range of delicious cookies, sausage rolls, soft amaretti biscuits and Dark Arts tiramisu.
There's also a fab selection of Italian drinks on offer in a swanky new fridge, as well as a coffee menu so you can pick a brew to go hand in hand with your chosen baked good.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
The interior is just as gorgeous, complete with yellow walls, red tiles and a mirror hanging above the baker's table so you can really see all the magic happen.
And trust us, it is magic.
There's a couple of benches outside so you can plonk yourself in the sunshine to enjoy your sarnie, which is what we'll be doing in this glorious bank holiday sunshine.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can really tell this is a proper labour of love, and Chris and the team have done a cracking job of keeping that Silver's spirit in there.
Go and say hello to congratulate them on this fabulous new opening, it's a great addition to Farsley and the Leeds foodie scene.
The Script announce HUGE arena gig in Leeds this year
Thomas Melia
Boyband and radio hitmakers The Script are coming to Leeds and are playing out alongside an equally big support act.
'For the First Time' in almost a year, The Script are playing a run of live shows across the UK including Leeds' First Direct Arena.
This Irish-based band have soundtracked generations with their hits spanning two decades including 'Hall of Fame', 'Breakeven', 'Superheroes' and more.
Consisting of lead vocalist Danny O'Donoghue with Benjamin Seargent on bass, guitarist Ben Weaver and drummer Adam Marcello, their music fuses pop and rock.
The Script has released three albums that have topped both UK and Ireland charts as well as four Top 10 singles and they're hoping to reign supreme on the charts once more with upcoming LP The User's Guide to Being Human.
Although the full album doesn't drop until August, Danny and the rest of the lads have dropped a single titled 'Man In The Arena'.
There's even a nod to the Northern music scene on the tracklist as one of the upcoming releases is labelled 'The Crowd Was Singing Wonderwall'.
Other tracks on this LP include 'Living Our Life Without Me', 'I'm 100 Different People' and a song that's sure to get a few tears out of all of us - 'Grow Old with Grace'.
As well as announcing this new run of shows set for Winter 2026, The Script are joining Take That on a stadium tour titled The Circus Live across June and July.
Joining The Script on their latest UK tour this Winter is James Morrison known for similar ballad-like hits including 'Broken Strings' and 'Wonderful World'.
The Script UK tour dates
Mon 2 November - Belfast, UK - SSE Arena
Thu 5 November - Newcastle, UK - Utilita Arena
Fri 6 November - Birmingham, UK - Utilita Arena
Sat 7 November - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live
Mon 9 November - Nottingham, UK - Motorpoint Arena
Tue 10 November - Leeds, UK - First Direct Bank Arena
Thu 12 November - Aberdeen, UK - P&J Live
Fri 13 November - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
Sat 14 November - Sheffield, UK - Utilita Arena
Mon 16 November - Bournemouth, UK - Bournemouth International Centre
Thu 19 November - Liverpool, UK - M&S Bank Arena
Sat 21 November - London, UK - The O2
The Script are visiting First Direct Arena on Tuesday 10 November 2026 for their The Man In The Arena Tour with tickets and more info HERE.
Sophie Smith -
6th October 2021 
