{{Short description|British bakery chain}} {{Infobox company | name = Maison Blanc | logo = Maison Blanc.jpg | industry = Pâtisserie, café | predecessor = | successor = | founded = {{Start date|1981}} | founder = Raymond Blanc | defunct = {{End date|df=yes|2017|03}} | area_served = | owner = Kout Food Group K.S.C.C. (trademarks) | parent = | divisions = | subsidiaries = | footnotes = | website = | hq_location_country = }} '''Maison Blanc''' was a British bakery chain, founded by Raymond Blanc in 1981.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raymond Blanc OBE |url=https://www.usefulchefs.com/raymond-blanc/ |website=Celebrity Chefs |date=2012-08-31 |access-date=2022-07-11 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Maison Blanc's store portfolio under review |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/maison-blancs-store-portfolio-under-review |website=The Caterer |date=2016-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711124809/https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/maison-blancs-store-portfolio-under-review |archive-date=2022-07-11 |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-11 |language=en}}</ref>
== History == In May 1999, Lyndale Foods purchased Maison Blanc for £12 million. At this point, it was the UK's second largest bakery chain.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.egi.co.uk/news/lyndale-buys-maison-blanc-for-12m/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=www.egi.co.uk |title=Lyndale buys Maison Blanc for £12m |date=25 May 1999 }}</ref>
In 2007, Kuwaiti firm Kout Food Group rescued Maison Blanc, as Lyndale Foods began to struggle financially.<ref>{{cite web |last= |date=2009-05-08 |title=Raymond Blanc to relaunch Maison Blanc patisserie chain |url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/news/raymond-blanc-to-relaunch-maison-blanc-patisserie-chain/612162.article |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=British Baker }}</ref>
In the year ending 31 December 2014, Maison Blanc had reported a loss of nearly £3 million.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-11-18 |title=Maison Blanc's Future Uncertain |url=https://www.henleyherald.com/2016/11/18/maison-blancs-future-uncertain/ |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Henley Herald |language=en-GB}}</ref>
==Closure== In September 2016, Kout Food Group hired a property agent to carry out a strategic review of the 13 Maison Blanc locations and production facility.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-27 |title=Maison Blanc's store portfolio under review |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/maison-blancs-store-portfolio-under-review |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=The Caterer |language=en}}</ref> In December 2016, there were rumours that rival, Patisserie Valerie, would purchase the chain, but with Kout Food Group retaining the brand name.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cooke |first=Alice |date=2016-12-05 |title=Patisserie Holdings eyes Maison Blanc purchase |url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/finance/patisserie-holdings-eyes-maison-blanc-purchase/622922.article |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=British Baker }}</ref>
In March 2017, the chain was closed by Kout Food Group as they began to withdraw from the UK market, with all locations closed down.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rival may take over cafe |url=http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/henley-on-thames/106825/rival-may-take-over-cafe.html |website=Henley Standard |date=2017-03-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220711125144/https://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/henley-on-thames/106825/rival-may-take-over-cafe.html |archive-date=2022-07-11 |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-11}}</ref>
In July 2017, it was announced that Patisserie Valerie would move into four former Maison Blanc locations.<ref>{{cite web |last=Bamford |first=Vince |date=2017-07-24 |title=Patisserie Valerie opens in former Maison Blanc and extends Sainsbury's tie-up |url=https://bakeryinfo.co.uk/retail/patisserie-valerie-opens-in-former-maison-blanc-and-extends-sainsburys-tie-up/623864.article |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=British Baker }}</ref>
In February 2019, Maison Blanc's former production facility was sold to Joe & Seph's. The office space above had served as the UK headquarters for Kout Food Group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KOUT FOOD GROUP RESTAURANTS UK LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/08077766 |access-date=2024-12-18 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:1981 establishments in England Category:2017 disestablishments in England Category:Bakeries of the United Kingdom
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