Based in Solihull, it was taken over by Rank Hovis McDougall and expanded into a 255 retail bakery, and then sandwich chain business.
In 2000, as high street trends changed, it sold the freeholds of the various retail premises.
Due to financial difficulties arising from a downturn in high street trading conditions, in November 2006 the chain went into administration with a footprint of 158 shops, under the legal control of Tenon Group[2] Tenon immediately closed 37 loss-making sites, with around 250 job losses.
[3] Peppiatt left the business in late 2009, by which time Cooks the Bakery was no longer involved in Van Delivery or Schools Catering.
Between Peppiatt leaving and final collapse, the chain faced reducing High Street footfall and rising costs, and had been constantly reducing the number of stores.