A wave of uncertainty has swept through the Chichester community in West Sussex following the distressing news that Sussex Bakes Ltd, which operates under the well-known brand More Foods, has entered administration. This move has placed the livelihoods of 120 dedicated employees at its 28,000-square-foot factory in immediate jeopardy. The company, a significant local employer and a supplier to the nation’s high streets since 2003, specializes in crafting a wide array of baked goods, from muffins and cookies to seasonal treats for Christmas and Easter. This is a poignant moment for a business with deep roots in the area, marking the second time in a decade that the facility has faced such a crisis, though the hope now rests on the administration process providing a crucial lifeline to salvage operations and protect jobs.
The administration process, initiated on May 11, 2026, is a protective mechanism designed to give a struggling company breathing space. By appointing external administrators—in this case, David Kemp and Richard Hunt of Exigen Group—the business is shielded from aggressive creditor actions while the experts work to assess its viability. Their goal is to find a path forward, whether through restructuring, finding a new buyer, or rescuing parts of the enterprise. This procedure echoes the events of 2017, when the then-named More Food Ltd was itself rescued from administration by Sussex Bakes in a transaction that preserved 150 jobs, offering a glimmer of hope that a similar positive outcome might be achievable this time.
The story of More Foods is one of humble, entrepreneurial beginnings evolving into industrial-scale production. It started not in a factory, but in a coffee shop named Upstairs Downstairs, founded by Caron Howe and a friend. Their homemade scones and cakes quickly garnered a local reputation, so much so that other businesses began seeking their products for their own customers. This demand sparked a pivotal transition: the café side was sold, and the company redirected its energy entirely toward wholesale supply. This journey from a community-focused coffee shop to a state-of-the-art manufacturer supplying major retailers is a testament to British food enterprise, making its current predicament all the more poignant.
Today, the company’s operations represent a significant link in the UK’s food supply chain. Its “state-of-the-art” facility does not just produce under its own Sussex Bakes and More Foods brands; it is also a critical manufacturer of own-label goods for prominent supermarkets, national coffee chains, restaurant groups, and wholesalers. This means that cakes and traybakes enjoyed by consumers across the country may very well originate from this now-threatened Chichester factory. The potential loss of such a key producer could send ripples through the sector, affecting availability and choice on shelves and in cafés.
For the 120 staff facing an anxious wait, the human impact is profound. These are skilled bakers, production line workers, logistics coordinators, and administrators whose careers and financial stability are now hanging in the balance. The administration period brings a period of painful limbo, where daily life is overshadowed by concerns for the future. The local economy in West Sussex also feels the tremor, as the factory’s fate will influence surrounding businesses and the community fabric that has included this employer for over two decades.
As the joint administrators begin their work, the focus turns to the search for solutions. The company’s history of a successful “going concern sale” in 2017 provides a blueprint for potential rescue. The administrators will be evaluating every asset, contract, and possibility to find a way to continue operations, whether in whole or in part. The coming weeks will be decisive. The hope for employees, the local community, and the wider food industry is that this story can again find a chapter of renewal, preserving the legacy of a beloved local business that grew from a simple coffee shop into a cornerstone of British baking.
