The boss of a sweet baking empire that swept the county has unexpectedly closed four of her five shops.

Today, Cheran’s Bakery announced it will be shutting its Faversham, Canterbury, Maidstone, and Rochester stores with immediate effect.

Owner Cheran Friedman began her business journey in June 2022 when she opened her first bakery in West Street, Sittingbourne, but has made the decision following “ever-increasing rents, rates and utility bills”.

The baked goods boss, of Rock Road in the same town, celebrated her shop’s six-month anniversary by opening a second store in Canterbury in December.

She then opened a third in the former Love Brownies shop in Rochester High Street – a location so popular it was even used to film the hit Netflix series, The Crown.

As her business grew, the ex-Fulston Manor pupil moved her cooking facility from the small kitchen behind her Sittingbourne store to a much larger unit in the Eurolink Industrial Park.

She then opened her fourth shop in Court Street, Faversham, last April.

Her final shop, in Maidstone, began serving customers after she got the keys to the Royal Star Arcade unit in July.

However, despite her year of success, Cheran released a statement this morning explaining her “heartbreak” over the closure of all of her shops but the store in Sittingbourne.

“Putting it into words is just the final heartbreak,” she said.

“I will be closing the Faversham, Canterbury, Maidstone and Rochester shops with immediate effect as of today

“I’ve negotiated supplies and ingredients, but the ever-increasing rents, rates and utility bills etc are making it completely unviable to keep these shops going.

“Everyone’s bills have increased significantly, yet wages haven’t. This affects every household.

“The shops were thriving, but currently bills are going up each month and it makes quiet days alongside the astronomical costs of running the shops just impossible to swallow. It’s just not viable to continue.”

In October, Cheran’s Bakery launched a crowdfunding campaign on Seedrs to raise £225,000 to help grow its brand exposure and generate greater revenues.

Since November 9, just two months, £325,482 was raised by 193 investors.

Cheran has confirmed she’s cancelled the crowdfund so those who have invested will get their money back via Seedrs.

She added: “I had such big plans for the business this year, but with more bad news and no help from our government I’ve made the really tough decision to go back to basics and thrive as a small company rather than stretch myself and the business to the absolute limits for no real gains in many aspects other than the pure stress of worrying what the economy will be doing next.

“I’m so sorry to the staff that are affected.

“I appreciate every single one of you for helping me on my journey and I’m so sad it’s come to this.

“This makes it even more heart-wrenching to think about the fact that I’ve let you down.”

The mum-of-two has promised any collections booked for the affected shops will be delivered and the bakery will be in contact shortly.

She added: “I hope you’ll still support us in Sittingbourne as everything there remains the same, we will have everything available to order online via our website

“It’s been amazing, and I’m sure this journey will still be amazing, it’s just taking a different course to what I’d hoped for this year

“Support us and any other independent shops as we need you now more than ever - swap your daily coffee to a local shop.

“Have your lunch in an independent cafe, and buy gifts from your local cute gift shop.

“These small companies really need your support. The chain shops will probably survive, but the little ones won’t unless you help them.”