Project Overview

After more than a century in business, family-run bakery chain Oddie’s (established 1905) sadly closed, citing the impact of the Covid pandemic, the subsequent economic slowdown, and a failed rescue deal late last year. The former Oddie’s branch at Network 65, Hapton has since been acquired and relaunched by Burnley’s iconic pie brand Haffners under its new Haffners Eats concept.

Bluebell North West were engaged to take the existing unit and deliver a full redevelopment, turning a closed bakery shop into a modern, welcoming space ready for Haffners Eats — with an emphasis on quality workmanship, heritage sensitivity, and a fast, well-managed programme.

The Challenge

Transforming a legacy bakery site into a refreshed retail environment, aligned with Haffners’ brand ambitions, required careful planning. The key challenges included:

• Working within an existing shell with dated finishes and layout constraints.
• Delivering a visibly modern aesthetic while respecting the local heritage associated with both Oddie’s and Haffners.
• Coordinating trades to achieve a tight programme and minimise downtime to opening.

Our Solution

Bluebell NW completed a comprehensive shop redevelopment, including:

• Full internal refresh with new finishes to floors, walls and ceilings for a brighter, cleaner customer experience.
• Updated front-of-house layout to improve service flow and display visibility.
• Joinery and decoration works tied closely to Haffners Eats brand presentation.
• Coordination of M&E tweaks as required for the new operational setup.

The Result

The former Oddie’s unit has been completely refreshed to launch Haffners Eats at Network 65 — a modern, clean and functional space that reflects the ambition of the new owners while serving customers efficiently.

Key Benefits

• Modernised retail environment aligned to Haffners’ evolving brand.
• Improved customer flow and display presentation.
• Fast, coordinated delivery to accelerate reopening timelines.

Local Heritage

Oddie’s, a family-run bakery founded in 1905, sadly closed after 120 years, with more than 100 jobs lost. The pandemic and the subsequent economic slowdown had a profound impact, and a potential sale fell through after extensive negotiations. In Burnley, Haffners — under new ownership led by Dean and Ted Cockett — has committed to keeping the original recipes and looking after staff while growing the brand nationwide. The Haffners Eats concept at Network 65 is part of that future.