For experienced, well-capitalised multi-unit operators seeking premium bakery café development rights in selected markets.
The three questions we ask on every Discovery Call are:
1. What is your target market? 2. What is your operating background? 3. What is your capital position?
If you have strong answers to all three, we want to talk. Here is what strong looks like:
Senior leadership committed to the programme, with the capability to execute a multi-unit rollout.
Not currently a fit
Bread Ahead is not currently prioritising single-unit operators, first-time franchisees or passive investors. If you are at an earlier stage, you may still register your details and we will keep them on file for future opportunities.
Founded by Matthew Jones in 2013, Bread Ahead began as a small stall at London’s Borough Market and quickly built a reputation for exceptional sourdough, doughnuts, pastries and pizza.
Today, Bread Ahead operates across London, with its flagship still rooted at Borough Market, alongside a growing international footprint.
What makes Bread Ahead different is the role of education. Through the Bakery School, the brand does more than sell baked goods. It teaches the craft, builds community and creates lasting customer loyalty.
Baking a legacy
Matthew Jones trained in Michelin-starred kitchens before bringing that discipline to Borough Market in 2013. His belief was simple: a bakery could be more than a place to buy bread. It could be a place to learn, gather and connect.
Bread Ahead has grown from that belief. Quality, education and community remain at the centre of the brand, with the Bakery School now a defining part of the customer experience and franchise training platform.
Matthew still leads the brand. The standards have not moved.
Bread Ahead has built a loyal following through signature doughnuts, artisanal sourdough, seasonal pastries and a bakery experience that feels both premium and welcoming.
The brand attracts customers from more than 100 countries, with stores that serve locals, tourists and food-led communities alike.
As Bread Ahead expands, the opportunity is to bring that same combination of product, theatre, education and hospitality into carefully selected markets.
Premium product. Elevated experience. Education-led loyalty.
Bread Ahead sits at the premium end of the bakery market, combining high-quality products with open kitchens, strong retail environments and the Bakery School.
That combination gives the brand a wider platform than a traditional bakery café. Customers do not only buy from Bread Ahead. They learn from it, return to it and build a relationship with the brand.
Bakery has moved beyond basic bread. Across global markets, it now sits across breakfast, snacking, gifting, dessert and premium everyday food occasions.
Bread Ahead is built for this shift: premium product, visible craft, strong retail theatre and an education platform that turns customers into a community.
Projected artisanal bakery market by 2030
Bread Ahead’s business model is driven by three key revenue streams that support its growth both in the UK and internationally. These pillars not only enhance the brand’s ability to offer a unique customer experience but also help Bread Ahead establish a strong presence across new global markets, as we continue to expand our retail bakery cafés, Bakery Schools, and wholesale reach.
Bread Ahead’s retail bakery cafés operate in iconic locations including Borough Market and Wembley. Serving freshly baked goods, artisan pizzas, and full meals at select locations, these cafés attract loyal customers and drive strong foot traffic.
Since 2014, the Bread Ahead Bakery School has grown from a single table at Borough Market into a core part of the brand’s identity.
It is where customers learn the craft, teams absorb the standards, and franchise partners connect with the discipline behind every product. More than a class format, the Bakery School turns Bread Ahead into an experience-led bakery brand built around education, quality and community.
What makes it powerful
The Bakery School is not an add-on. It is one of Bread Ahead’s strongest differentiators.
Landmark initiative to teach 1,000,000 young people to bake for free by 2036.
“Back in 2013, it started with a single market stall in Borough Market and a simple belief – that baking brings people together. What has grown since is a community built around sharing real life skills, confidence and creativity with the next generation.
The Future Bakers Project is about opening the kitchen to young people everywhere and showing them what they are truly capable of. When you learn to bake, you don’t just learn recipes. You learn resilience, independence and joy.” — Matthew Jones
22 Open Locations - 4 Coming Soon
