History

The C T Baker Group

The company began on the property at 8 Market Place, Holt, it was built in 1631, the date set in the west gable end. 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.

On 22 November 1900 the firm was incorporated as CT Baker Ltd.

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. Expansion was the order of the day and it all began during the worst recession of the latter part of the 20th Century, inflation went up to 26% with interest rates at 15%, and  power 3 days a week.

The start of rebuilding was in  1976 and in 1977 the Larners 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.

In 1989 R Edmonds & Son, a builders’ merchant in Stalham and North Walsham was purchased which turned builders merchanting into a major part of the company business.

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 saw the acquisition of Betty(Holt) Ltd , a department store at the other end of the town specializing in ladies and mens clothing , home furnishings and furniture .

In 2007 the supermarket of Budgens was added to the Group offering local products from local suppliers to local people.

Which brings us up to today .The CT Baker group employs over 250 staff within the three divisions of Department Store retailing, Builders Merchants and  Budgens supermarket.

The builders merchant division continues to grow with the addition of a 4th branch in Aylsham which opened on 15th March 2013……