Casa Egon, the oldest confectionery in the Canary Islands, has been family-run for over a century, thriving in Tenerife's historic La Orotava while UK high streets face a wave of closures. The bakery, founded in December 1916 by German pastry chef Egon Alfred Wende Bard, continues to serve traditional cakes and pastries to locals and visitors.
A Century of Tradition
Mr. Bard's journey to Africa was interrupted by World War I, leading him to settle in La Orotava, where he opened the Taoro Confectionery and Café. In 1925, the shop moved to its current location on Calle León, an 18th-century building that has become a landmark. The business has remained in the family for four generations, with each preserving secret recipes and resisting modernization.
Loyal customers travel across the island for Casa Egon's famous mille-feuille pastries, handmade biscuits, and traditional egg yolk rings, according to Canarian Weekly.
UK High Streets in Crisis
While Casa Egon thrives by keeping things simple, UK high streets are suffering from an unprecedented crisis. British business owners blame the government's aggressive fiscal policies, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves' National Insurance hikes, rising minimum wage, and business rates reforms. Employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) have risen to 15%, and the threshold for payment was slashed from £9,100 to £5,000, burdening independent shops with unexpected payroll costs.
In April 2026, Brown's Original Banbury Cakes Limited was voluntarily dissolved after over 400 years in business. Founded during the reign of James I, the historic brand closed when 78-year-old Philip Brown chose to wind down the company rather than face the hostile economic climate.
Scotland's oldest bakery, Alexander Taylor Bakery, narrowly avoided collapse in April 2026. Founded in 1820, the 206-year-old community cornerstone was sold to a private investor after skyrocketing operating costs made family ownership unsustainable.
