Off The Wheaten Track, the first completely gluten-free deli in Greater Manchester, has unexpectedly announced its permanent closure.
The Altrincham business was opened on Oxford Road in April 2019 by Hayley Hadfield, who had been inspired by the experiences of her husband Dave, who suffers from coeliac disease, the lifelong autoimmune disease caused by a reaction to gluten.
The business has since become a favourite among a wide community of people with food intolerances, as well as many who simply appreciated Hayley's baking.
Announcing the decision in what she said was "the most emotional and bitter sweet post I will ever write", Hayley said: "David and I have made the very difficult decision to permanently close Off The Wheaten Track deli.
"We are both proud of what we have achieved in almost 6 years of trading.
"The very first exclusively gluten free deli in Altrincham & Greater Manchester. A niche business the haters said would never last more than 3 months!
"We defied all the odds and nurtured our little business like it was our own child. Protected it at all costs, and watched it grow beyond anything we could have ever imagined.
"We survived all the unexpected challenges, covid, energy hikes, constant price increases on ingredients and the continuing cost of living crisis.
"We originally started the business to have a better work life balance and to create a safe space for coeliacs and others with dietary needs. To squash the myth about gluten free food."
Hayley - the sister of famous classicial singer Russell Watson - said that a contributory factor had been an increasingly difficult economic environment, as well as an unspecified opportunity to move away from Altrincham that she said "would have been foolish to turn down".
She added: "To be honest the recent government budget, business rate changes and rental increase has created cause for concern, making us seriously consider our future as business owners.
"The reality is, our lease is coming to an end. Whilst we have thought long and hard about renewing it, David and I have both realised, signing another commercial fixed term lease with arduous commercial landlord/agents in an increasingly uncertain climate, just isn't in our best interest professionally or personally.
"Despite being incredibly sad and emotional about our decision to close our beloved business, a simple twist of fate offered us an exciting lifestyle opportunity that would have been foolish to turn down.
"The next chapter in our life story will involve us leaving Altrincham for pastures new."
