Global Franchise 10.3

From its confident expansion from London’s historical food market to the world stage, Bread Ahead is redefining what a modern bakery franchise can be – locally rooted, globally scalable. For ambitious operators ready to bring a world- class British bakery for their market, this franchise is positioned to grow with themwith a proven framework The story began with just three core products – sourdough, amaretti, and brownies – and a belief that great baking should be honest, accessible, and handcrafted. From those small beginnings, the brand quickly built a loyal following. Sourdough remains central to the business, made using the original starter affectionately known as “Brucey.” Education has been core from day one. Matthew Jones launched hands-on workshops that became the foundation of the Bakery School. Today, education remains paramount to Bread Ahead, with in-person and online bakery workshops delivered from its London bakeries and across international markets. The school is fully integrated into operations – not an add-on – and supports franchise onboarding and ongoing performance through structured training, product standards, and service routines. In the UK alone, the Bakery School offers more than 40 in-person workshops, with over 500 online sessions reaching 34,000+ learners across 50+ countries. Bread Ahead is built on three pillars: retail bakery cafés, the Bakery School, and wholesale/B2B. This diversified model provides franchise partners with multiple revenue streams and strong brand engagement. Product performance underlines this strength: up to 6,000 doughnuts are sold daily across the UK, with the Crème Brûlée doughnut alone accounting for 4,500 per day. Seasonal peaks see mince pie sales reach 2,000 per day during the Christmas period. International expansion is accelerating. The business operates 12 bakeries in the Middle East, with plans for 12 more and three additional Bakery Schools by mid- 2026. Growth in Asia is underway in Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia, while a flagship corporate bakery is planned for NewYork City in 2026. In the UK, momentum continued with the opening of Leicester Square, London, in December 2025, and a Harvey Nichols Manchester pop-up with workshops planned for early 2026. Beyond its bakeries, Bread Ahead’s influence extends through two bestselling cookbooks – one now translated into Spanish, Dutch, and Korean – and a long-term initiative to teach one million schoolchildren to bake over the next decade, positioning baking as both a life skill and a gateway to hospitality careers. For prospective franchise partners, the proposition is clear. Bread Ahead is not simply a bakery brand, but a complete operating system with education at its core. The Bakery School trains teams, engages communities, and converts first-time visitors into loyal advocates. From a Borough Market stall to a globally recognized brand, Bread Ahead offers franchise partners authentic heritage, proven international appeal, and a scalable, profitable model. Established: 2013 Number of locations: 18 (plus 6 under construction) Territories: Global, with a growing focus on the U.S. Bread Ahead Bread Ahead is a modern British bakery brand built on authentic craft, education, and global appeal. What began in 2013 as a modest stall in London’s Borough Market has grown into an international business spanning retail bakeries, bakery schools, and wholesale partnerships across the UK, the Middle East, Asia, and soon the United States. Founded by Matthew Jones, a chef with a Michelin- starred background, Bread Ahead is renowned for its sourdough, doughnuts, and seasonal pastries – underpinned by a training platform that makes the brand scalable, consistent, and franchise-ready. B E S T E M E R G I N G F R A N C H I S E BreadAhead 27 GLOBAL-FRANCHISE.COM Globa l Franchi se Awards 2026 Fina l i sts