Chester makers take brownies national after rebrand and delivery launch
Handmade brownies and blondies baked in Chester will now be posted across the UK after Bakerz Collective, formerly Cheshire Bakes, launched a nationwide delivery service on 25 October. The business, which operates from kitchen space at the Chester Townhouse Hotel, said the postal service is a key step in reaching customers beyond the events circuit where its products have been popular.
The move follows the bakery’s acquisition by SAVVY Collective, which owns a food division under the name Foxxy Foods. SAVVY’s founder, Steven Hesketh, described the postal service as a “significant milestone”, saying it will allow the company to take its treats “directly into customers’ homes across the UK.” Operational and branding changes have accompanied the takeover, including a fresh identity and new packaging.
Production remains firmly rooted in Chester. The brownies and blondies are made by an in-house team working in the previously underused kitchen at the Chester Townhouse Hotel, taking advantage of space after breakfast service. Shannon Fraser, director of Bakerz Collective, said the proximity to the hotel kitchen allows the team to bake in small batches every day so they can get fresh orders out quickly.
- Small-batch production: Baked daily in Chester to maintain freshness and consistency.
- Brand evolution: From The Brownie Box to Cheshire Bakes and now Bakerz Collective following acquisition.
- Social reach: The business has more than 6,600 followers on Facebook.
The bakery offers a range of familiar flavours. Core brownie options include Oreo, Mars, Rolo and Bourbon, while blondie varieties are listed as Jammy Dodger, Custard Cream and Lotus. The company also plans seasonal specials and limited editions, and said its school cakes and Welsh cakes have consistently sold out at events it has attended.
“Everything is handmade in Chester by our own in-house team, baked fresh in small batches with a real focus on flavour, quality and consistency,” said Steven Hesketh.
Hesketh stressed the acquisition’s aim was to build on the bakery’s existing strengths rather than turn it into a mass-produced brand. That emphasis on artisan production is being used as a selling point for the postal service, with the business promising customers can taste a difference when ordering to their door.
Local impact and logistics
Using hotel kitchen space that was not fully utilised after breakfast service is an example of how hospitality venues in Chester are being used more flexibly. For the Chester Townhouse Hotel, the arrangement provides an income stream from existing facilities and offers a local food-maker a production base without the cost of establishing a separate bakery site.
On logistics, Bakerz Collective says updated packaging and operational changes introduced since the acquisition will support the nationwide push. The company has not announced delivery prices or specific shipping zones in its launch statement, instead emphasising product range and quality. Seasonal demand and event sales that previously formed a major part of the business will now sit alongside direct-to-consumer postal sales.
| Product type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Brownies | Oreo, Mars, Rolo, Bourbon |
| Blondies | Jammy Dodger, Custard Cream, Lotus |
For Chester residents, the expansion highlights two threads: the city’s small food producers growing their reach and the creative reuse of hospitality facilities. Bakerz Collective’s approach keeps production local while opening sales to customers throughout the UK, a pattern other independent food businesses may follow if the model proves economically viable.
As Bakerz Collective begins postal deliveries, attention will turn to how the business manages quality control, shelf life and courier handling at scale — key factors for any chilled or baked-good postal service. For now, the operation remains a locally rooted enterprise promising fresh, handmade treats from a Chester kitchen to homes nationwide.
