the sudden closure of one of the region’s best loved businesses has left staff in Llangollen, Corwen and Bala jobless.
Eccleston Confectioners closed its doors for the last time on Monday due to the retirement of the firm’s owner, David Eccleston.
The move has sparked the complete closure of the business – hitting shops in Bala, Corwen, Llangollen, Chirk, Wrexham, Gresford and the bakery at Coedpoeth.
A dozen full-time staff and 30 part-timers have been made redundant.
Staff in the Dee Valley, who knew nothing about the planned closures, said they received their first delivery as normal on Monday morning, but by noon they were told the shops would close.
The closure also hit its customers, including Carrog Railway Station, which depended on the bakery in Corwen.
“We are all in shock here, I feel really sad for the girls,” said Janet Fox, who works at the tea rooms at the station.
“I am really struggling to find someone who can deliver to us.
“I could phone up Eccleston’s and get a delivery every day of the week.
"They have supplied the tea rooms since they opened in 1996.
“The Corwen shop even made us our very own pasty, hand-made every day.”
Eccleston Confectioners was set up in 1898 and has since been run by four generations of the family.
But Mr Eccleston, of Wrexham, decided to call time as he approaches his 73rd birthday next week.
“There is no one in the family to take over the business,” he said. “My son worked as general manager in the bakery but he has his own business interests.
“There is also the fact that in the present economic climate people are finding it difficult to borrow money from the banks and it is hard to buy any business, so we are just closing down.”
He added: “Monday was a very upsetting day for me, going round shaking hands with everyone.
“It has been full of emotions and we have also been frantically busy explaining to everyone what is happening.
“The Eccleston family wish most sincerely to thank their customers for their loyalty and support over many years.”