Baker ordered to leave Borough Market for being 'too successful' wants public apology: 'Say it was a mistake'

Bread Ahead Holly Bishop , Entertainment & Lifestyle Reporter 1 minute ago COMMENTS The owner of a popular bakery that is being kicked out of Borough Market for being “too successful” wants an apology from the market and for them to declare “it was a mistake”

Bread Ahead , which serves doughnuts, sourdough, pastries, coffee and more, has operated in the popular south London market since 2013.

Owner Matthew Jones said he started the business solely off an “idea I believed in, a love of baking and a determination to make it work”, and in the 13 years since, the company has gone international, opened various stores and hired 83 people.

Matthew Jones first opened the stall in 2013 Bread Ahead “It’s tall poppy syndrome,” he told The Standard, claiming that the lease was not renewed as the business had gotten too successful thanks to its international growth.

“ I thought that being successful was kind of the whole purpose of opening a business.”

Jones explained that six months ago, he was told that a lease renewal was approaching.

Market trustees allegedly told him that the process involved looking at food policies, wastage, sustainability, employment contracts and minimum London wage requirements.

The bakery, which has since gone International, was first opened in 2013 bread Ahead “We meet all of those obligations,” he said, adding that he takes his business “very seriously so we’re all over that”.

Therefore Jones was shocked when he was told that his lease would not be renewed and that they would have to be out in October.

“ We've done everything we can to fulfil the criteria of that, and you pull this complete wild card on us,” he vented.

Jones said that he wishes the market would have informed them that franchising internationally could have been an issue, then they could have potentially operated differently or opened under a different name.

“It feels like just a really weak excuse to try and get somebody out,” he said.

Bread Ahead serves doughnuts, sourdough, pastries, coffee and more Bread Ahead Jones said that Bread Ahead sent Borough Market a letter through their solicitor last week, though they have allegedly not replied.

He said that his main concern is his 83 members of staff, many of whom have worked at Bread Ahead for over a decade.