Popular bakers branching out

After more than 100 years in Walsall, the owners of a popular bakery are using their loaf by opening a new branch.

Hollands Craft Bakery has launched its new store in High Street, Bloxwich, will a successful operation still going strong in John Street, Walsall.

The business first started just outside the town centre, in Warwick Street, in the Butts, before subsequent tenures in Leamore Lane and Birmingham Road.

But when the Holland family were forced to sell off the firm four years ago, they looked no further than former employee Howard Smith and his wife June to take over the reins.

She said: "Howard worked for them when he was younger but he always knew the Holland family.

"It's always had a really good name in Walsall and that was something we wanted to continue.

"Things had gone really well in Walsall since we bought the business, which is why we decided to move into Bloxwich.

"It's been pretty good in Bloxwich so far, so hopefully we can carry that on."