Iconic Greater Manchester bakery warns: 'no one is safe' as it makes heartbreaking plea to customers

One of Greater Manchester's most famous bakeries and tearooms, loved for its chocolates, cakes and bakes, has issued a stark warning to customers that "no one is safe" amid the rising costs crippling the hospitality industry in 2025.

Slattery in Whitefield has been run by the same family for three generations and boasts a popular tearooms, large retail shop and bakery on Bury New Road.

Billed a "three storey emporium of treats" it is renowned for its occasion cakes and expertly crafted chocolates - as well as its own "chocolate challenge" in the tearooms.

Bosses there have now made an empassioned plea on Instagram urging support in the year ahead - and outlining just why so many hospitality businesses are fearing what lies ahead this year.

They say that the combined challenges they are now facing are "the worst we’ve ever experienced" in 57 years of business.

Entitled a "Heartfelt message from us to you" it broke down in detail the challenges Slattery faces.

The post said: "As we step into 2025, we feel it’s important to share some of the challenges we, and many others in our industry, are facing. Being a chocolatier, bakery and restaurant in the UK has always been a labour of love, but the rising costs of running a small business are hitting harder than ever."

They pointed to cocoa prices soaring to record highs, the cost of flour rising by 40 per cent in the last year, and shared that their own electricity bill "now exceeds £10,000 a month, and energy costs continue to rise".

They also warned that changes to National Insurance from the Labour Government "will add £55,000 to our yearly costs, this year alone."

The post continued: "In our 57 years of being open, the combined challenges we are facing now are the worst