Kuldīga bakery is one of the oldest and most known brands from Kurzeme, producing bread and pastries since the 1960s.
It is currently unknown whether the plant is to be sold because the company owner does not comment more broadly.
An employee told Latvian Radio: "I worked here for 40 years, for the last five I sold bread. It's sad, I was a baker, a brigadier [Soviet collective workforce leader], a lemonade maker. It's been my only workplace."
Only a few years ago – in 2018 – the company received the “Producer of the Year” nomination. Then, board member Dāvids Šternbergs said that “the bakery is not an easy business – it is tough and risky”. He himself worked at the company since 2007, adding that competition is very great, it's not easy to withstand. The employees are hard to keep, but there are those who love their work and bread. Then, around 140 employees worked in the company, and gradually it shrunk.
The head of the company did not comment much in his interview with Latvian Radio.
The local government has been informed about the cessation of business.
"The municipality of Kuldīga has received the announcement of the liquidation and cessation of business of the company Kuldīga bakery Ltd. on June 10 of this year. Clearly, the withdrawal of each company from the market affects our citizens and their families, and also competitiveness," said Ilze Meirupska-Eglīte, representative of the municipality council of Kuldīga. She pointed out that it was a signal for the City Council to pursue more targeted work on strengthening of the business environment.
Sandra Krinkele, head of the Ventspils branch of the State of Employment Agency, said: “Communication with the management of the company does not go well yet, but we have sent a letter that we are prepared to provide support and help people who will find themselves without work – how can we look at the vacancies registered on our homepage, how to obtain unemployment benefits [..]."
The “Kuldīga bakery” has been one of the hallmarks of Kuldīga, including the “Kukulītis” shop, where warm bread could be purchased. It closed the door in April this year.
The municipality of Kuldīga expressed the hope that there will be someone who will want to develop the brand.
