A changing company

The Cutress Family, owners of Forfars Bakers, have been baking and milling in Sussex since the 1500s - around the time of Oliver Cromwell. In the late 19th Century Charles Cutress opened the first shop - and added 2 more in the Brighton area. In 1913 the last of the Cutress Windmills was demolished. After serving in the First World War, Charles purchased the Compton Road Bakery, where he was also a Corn and Forage Merchant.

In 1920 the family moved to a small village outside Brighton called Ditchling, where Charles purchased the village Bakery. It was from here that Charles Cutress (the Grandson of the previous Charles Cutress) ran a very interesting business until 1936. During their time at the Ditchling Village Bakery Charles had two sons- John and Tony.

In 1936 Charles took over Forfars (from the Forfars family) - at the time the company had two shops, separate bread and confectionery bakeries and a very well renowned outside catering business.

In 1949 Forfars moved to a new central bakery at Whippingham Street, Brighton. The site was an 8,000 sq. ft ex-laundry! During the 1950s and 1960s the company grew very quickly with many shops being added in and around Brighton. The company also opened two restaurants along with taking over the Courtlands Hotel.

In 1970 the first town centre shop was opened in Imperial Arcade, Brighton - this shop has been completely refitted in 2003. In 1975 Tony and John split Forfars into five companies, with John taking control of the hotel and outside catering businesses and Tony running the Bakery and Shops.

It is around this time that Tim and Matt, Tony's sons, joined Forfars. This after Tim had set up his own bakery business - The Mill Oven, in Storrington near Brighton - with fellow Baker George Charman.

With business growing steadily and constant European legislation changes Tim and Matt took the decision to move the Bakery to a new purpose built site on the outskirts of Brighton. Forfars now has 22 retail outlets throughout Sussex and supplies over 50 Wholesale customers, including the University of Sussex, Enterprise Foods (Co-Operative Retail) and Sussex County Cricket Ground.  There are also six 2U snack vans, taking our fresh Hot & Cold Snacks to customers in Industrial Estates and Businesses throughout Sussex.