The SLASTIČARNICA chain, which has closed most of its branches in the last few years, is preparing to reopen some stores.
Patisserie Valerie, which once had almost 200 stores across the UK and employed around 3,000 staff, is set to reopen two restaurants by October, the Sun has learned.
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Patisserie Valerie is slowly bringing back restaurants after the collapse Credit: Alamy
And the chain plans to reopen more cafes over the next few months, the Sun has learned, although exact locations and dates have yet to be confirmed.
Its Cambridge branch will reopen its doors next week after a lengthy refurbishment, while the restaurant at Cribbs Causeway Shopping Park, just outside Bristol, will re-open in mid-October.
The once-major confectionery chain fell into administration in 2019 after grappling with the fallout from an accounting fraud and immediately closing 71 of its 193 stores.
Since then, the number of stores has decreased to only 29, and restaurants have remained only in cities and some larger towns.
It has concessions in around 400 Sainsbury’s stores where customers can buy its 14 most popular cakes, according to its website.
Around five of its remaining restaurants are in London, with several others in the South East, including Winchester, Basingstoke and High Wycombe.
Further north, there are branches in York, Leeds, Chester and Durham.
The chain is currently recruiting for roles in its two new cafes.
Patisserie Valerie joins a number of other retailers and restaurants currently expanding across the UK.
Big discount retailer Costco plans to open 14 new warehouses across the UK in the next two years, the Sun has revealed, while The White Company is set to open five new outlets by November.
Bakery chain Greggs is also expanding with plans to open a net total of 150 outlets in 2023 – and confirmed eight upcoming stores to the Sun last month.
It comes as other big names on the high street are forced to close branches and homewares giant Wilko struggles to keep its 400 stores afloat.
You can find your nearest Valerie Patisserie using the map tool on her website – blue icons indicate the restaurant, while orange icons show Sainsbury’s stores that sell the cakes.
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Source: HIS Education