Sukh Chamdal (pictured above), chief executive of fresh cream cakes business Cake Box, has said it is aiming to grow Ambala Foods – the manufacturer and retailer of Asian sweets that it acquired in March for £22m, to 100 sites in the next five years. 

Ambala currently operates 22 stores, with 19 owned stores and three franchised stores, and has been family-run since inception in 1964. 

In terms of expanding Ambala, Chamdal told investors following its full-year results: “We’re aiming for 100 Ambala stores in next five years. These will be a mix of stand-alone and hybrid stores with Cake Box.” 

Chamdal also said there is also plenty of white space for its eponymous business to go after in the UK as the circa 250-strong brand targets growth to 400 locations. 

He said: “We’ve entered new locations such as Belfast, Hastings and Worthing, and then there’s those places we think could support further Cake Boxes – Derby, Leicester and Cardiff are just some examples.”

 “We believe there’s lots of opportunity to expand in the UK.” Chamdal also said the group’s debut international site – which has just opened in Paris – is “trading well”. 

He added: “We’re still in the soft launch period and getting the website up and running. 

Once the site settles down, we’re look at other opportunities.” Cake Box reported turnover increased 13% to £42.78m for the year ending 30 March 2025 compared with £37.84m the previous year. Underlying Ebitda was up 17.1% to £8.73m from £7.46m.”