About Us

1631

The property at 8 Market Place, Holt, was built in 1631, the date set in the west gable. It has continuously served the area as a shop since 1730 or thereabouts, with the involvement of the Baker family beginning in the 1760's or 1770's. The offer to our customers went through several incarnations before developing into the multifaceted emporium of today: Blacksmith, Brewer, Builders' Merchant, Ironmonger, Plumbers to mention but a few, and expanded throughout the period.

 

 

1958

On 22 November 1900 the firm was incorporated as CT Baker Ltd. and by 1958, having survived two World Wars, the Company employed 29 staff and was heavily into agricultural supplies. With the untimely death of Mr Jimmy Baker, the Managing Director, the next 15 years saw a period of decline, culminating in the near sale of the family business. However, the 70s witnessed a turnaround with a new generation coming onto the Board, Michael Baker (7th generation) a Chartered Chemical Engineer, decided he would return to Norfolk (previously based in Portsmouth) to reinvigorate the 200 year old family business.

 

 

1976

Rebuilding started in 1976 and in 1977 the Larner’s store was bought. By the mid 80's the south side of the grade III listed Market Place had been rebuilt, including the excavation of 2000 sq.ft. of wine cellar from the glacial deposits forming the Holt/Cromer Ridge.

 

 

1989

In 1989 R Edmonds & Son, a builders' merchant with premises in Stalham and North Walsham was purchased. In 2000, the Holt builders’ merchants business which was situated at the back of the main store at 8 Market Place was moved to a purpose-built building on the industrial estate off the Hempstead Road, Holt. During the 1980's and 1990's development on the Market Place site continued. Approaching the Millennium, the Company split into the 2 divisions of Retailing and Builders Merchants.

 

 

2004

2004 saw the acquisition of Betty (Holt) Ltd, a store further along the High Street specialising in Clothing, Home Furnishings and Furniture. The Furniture Centre still remains here, but the clothing department has since relocated to the main store.

 

 

2006

In September 2006 the Stalham Builders’ Merchant moved into a purpose built depot on Staithe Road, and the following year, Budgens of Holt was added to the Group. This supermarket in Holt allowed us to offer local products from local suppliers to local people. In November 2011 a major extension took place making us us the largest Budgens store nationally.

 

 

2011

In April 2011 Bakers & Larners stepped into the digital age and www.bakersandlarners.co.uk was launched. The website allows customers to receive the same quality and personal service which they would receive instore.

 

 

2013

On 15 March 2013 a fourth builders’ merchants was added to the division. A purpose built building of 4000 sq.ft was erected on a just over one acre site in Aylsham and two months later, www.ctbaker.co.uk was launched. This website provides current and potential new customers with all the information they may need about all four of our Builders’ Merchant branches. By July 2013, we also created social media pages to engage with our customers and in August, www.budgensofholt.co.uk was launched, allowing customers to keep up to date with the latest offers, and learn about our local suppliers. Expanding the business still, our latest addition to the Group is Budgens of Aylsham which was incorporated on 10th September 2013.

 

 

2019

Michael Baker passed away in July 2019, his legacy of 45 years working tirelessly as Managing Director has been to revive the fortunes of the Bakers & Larners Department store in Holt and put the town on the map.  The CT Baker group now employs a dedicated team of over 275 staff within the three divisions, Bakers & Larners of Holt Department Store, Builders’ Merchants and Budgens Supermarkets in Aylsham and Holt. In 2019, Board Chairman and Acting Managing Director, Jane Gurney-Read leads the business with the support of the Baker family, including 8th and 9th generation members.

 

 

2020

The CT Baker Group celebrated a milestone 250th years trading as a family business in 2020. We commited to raising £25,000 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices to support local children and their families with fundraising activities in store. Many anniversary events were unfortunately cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Group raised a grand total of £25,700.18. Bakers & Larners was forced to closed due to the pandemic between March and June 2020, and team members supported other areas of the business, such as our supermarkets, where demand hit a sudden increase. However, on Saturday 20 June 2020, CT Baker Group lost its Budgens of Holt store to a major fire. The only Post Office serving Holt was reinstated in Bakers & Larners of Holt within five days and whilst rebuilding of the supermarket takes place, a temporary Budgens of Holt store opened to provide a supermarket in Holt. Bakers & Larners of Holt was forced to close again due to the coronavirus pandemic on 31st December 2020, not reopening again until 12th April 2021. 

 

 

2021

In September 2021 the Baker family welcomed Carl Milton to take on the role of Managing Director. Bakers & Larners remains a family owned independent business with 8th and 9th generations of the Baker family still on the Board today, headed by Nick Baker acting as Senior Family Director. Under the leadership of Carl Milton, the business looks to grow with the demands of the 21st century whilst keeping core values such as quality, history, and the local community, at the heart of the business. 

 

2022

Bakers Yard Café opened on June 2nd 2022, a dog friendly retreat situated off the Garden Centre, the second eatery at Bakers & Larners with Number 10 located on the first floor of the Department Store.

 

2024

In February, after the departure of Carl Milton, Nick Baker, 9th generation of the Baker family, was appointed the role of Managing Director of the CT Baker Group.