J. & F.J. Baker
J. & F.J. Baker is a sixth-generation family-run oak bark tannery in Colyton, Devon — Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery — producing premium, slow-tanned leather for bespoke shoemakers, saddlers, equestrian craftsmen, interior designers, and specialist leather workers worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1862
- HeadquartersColyton, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What J. & F.J. Baker does
J. & F.J. Baker & Co Ltd is a privately held, family-run oak bark tannery located in Colyton, Devon, United Kingdom. Operating continuously on a site used for tanning since Roman times, the business was acquired by the Baker family in 1862 and is now in its sixth generation of family ownership, led by fifth-generation Managing Director Andrew Parr. It is the only remaining traditional oak bark tannery in Britain. The company employs 11–50 people and sells globally, with a documented policy of not shipping to Russia and handling US orders via a dedicated agent.
The firm's core product is leather produced via a 12–15 month traditional oak bark tanning process powered by a 400-year-old water wheel mechanism. Hides are suspended over tan pits for three months and then layered flat with bark for a further nine months, after which they are dressed using a proprietary library of nearly twenty natural grease blends ("dubbins") made on-site from food-industry by-products. The product portfolio comprises five core lines — Russian Leather (a six-year R&D reproduction of 18th-century Russian leather based on Metta Catharina shipwreck findings), Equestrian Leather, Interior Leather, Shoe Leather, and Vegetable Tanned Leather — each subdivided into specific cuts (butt, shoulder, belly, bends) and bespoke colour orders.
The business operates a predominantly one-time transactional revenue model, selling leather by the piece to a diversified base of luxury footwear makers, saddlers and equestrian craftsmen, leather goods producers, interior designers, and specialist trades (bookbinding, film, boat building). Distribution is via direct telephone/email orders with pro-forma invoicing, walk-in purchases at the Colyton tannery, international courier shipping (with a £350 minimum order for non-UK customers), and a US sales agent. Marketing is almost entirely organic — website/blog content, an Instagram account (@bakerstannerycolyton), and earned media including BBC television features and Leather UK 'Leather Advocate' recognition.
J. & F.J. Baker firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- J. & F.J. Baker
- Legal name
- J. & F.J. Baker & Co Ltd
- Website
- https://jfjbaker.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1862
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- J. & F.J. Baker is a sixth-generation family-run oak bark tannery in Colyton, Devon — Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery — producing premium, slow-tanned leather for bespoke shoemakers, saddlers, equestrian craftsmen, interior designers, and specialist leather workers worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
J. & F.J. Baker industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Tanned Leather Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing (31611), Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing (3161)
- SIC
- Leather & Leather Products (3100)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Retanning, Dyeing & Fatliquoring (IMAOAGAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hide & Skin Beamhouse Operations (Soaking/Liming/Deliming/Bating) (IMAOAGAB)
Keywords
Where J. & F.J. Baker is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colyton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
J. & F.J. Baker business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Leather Product Sales: Direct one-time sales of oak bark tanned leather products including hides, cuts, and pre-cut sole pieces. Products sold in various cuts: butt, shoulder, belly, bends. Revenue is transaction-based with no recurring component.
- Bespoke Colour Orders: Custom colour orders outside standard range available with minimum order requirements. Made-to-order items include Dark Havana leather.
- Leather Splitting Service: Custom splitting service to provide leather at specific thicknesses requested by customers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard UK Delivery |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Minimum Order Value (International) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | UK Minimum Order |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Sample Orders |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels3 records
J. & F.J. Baker product offering
Product offeringCore offering
J. & F.J. Baker is Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery, producing luxury oak bark tanned leather hides and cut pieces primarily for shoemakers, saddlers and equestrian craftsmen, interior designers, and luxury leather goods makers. Each piece of leather takes approximately 12–15 months to produce via a traditional water wheel-powered oak bark tannage, preserving natural hide fibres for superior strength and durability.
Product overview
J. & F.J. Baker is Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery, producing luxury leather since 1862. The company offers a focused portfolio of leather products across four main categories: Russian Leather (a recreation of 18th-century Russian Leather using oak, willow, and birch barks), Equestrian Leather (including Bridle Butt, Bridle Backs, Harness Backs, Stirrup Butt, Bellies, and Girth Straps for saddlery and equestrian equipment), Interior Leather (for furniture, flooring and paneling), and Shoe Leather (including sole bends, insoles, toe puffs, and cut soles for bespoke shoemaking). They also offer Vegetable Tanned Leather hides as an alternative product line. The company uses a traditional 12-14 month oak bark tanning process powered by a 400-year-old water wheel mechanism, producing leather that is stronger and more durable than modern alternatives.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Russian Leather Reproduction of 18th-century Russian Leather tanned using oak, willow, and birch barks, finished with birch oil for water resistance and a distinctive smoky aroma. Available in Traditional Brown and Black. Targeted at luxury leather goods makers such as Equus Leather and bespoke bootmakers.
- Equestrian Leather Pit tanned equestrian leather dressed using traditional methods for extra tensile strength and longevity. Includes Bridle Butt, Bridle Shoulder, Bridle Backs, Harness Backs, Stirrup Butt, Greasy Oak Bark Stirrup Butt, Bellies, and Girth Straps in various colours. Targeted at saddlers, harness makers, and equestrian craftsmen.
- Interior Leather Oak bark tanned leather suitable for furniture, flooring, panelling and household items, stronger and more hardwearing than other leathers. Includes Shaved Bends, Bridle Butt, and Panel Hide options. Targeted at interior designers, furniture makers, and furnishers.
- Shoe Leather Leather suitable for bespoke and top-of-the-range shoes. Includes Russian Leather, Sole Bends, Shoulders, Stiffeners, Toe Puffs, Cut Welts, Cut Sole, Cut Insole, and Heel Lift in various sizes and thicknesses. Targeted at distinguished bespoke shoemakers and luxury footwear brands.
- Vegetable Tanned Leather Vegetable tanned leather hides including Bridle Butt, Bridle Shoulder, and Stirrup Butt available in multiple colours (Black, Australian Nut, London Colour, Russet, Dark Havana, Green, and Blue). Targeted at leather goods makers seeking vegetable tanned alternatives.
- Leather Splitting Service Custom splitting service providing leather at the specific thicknesses requested by customers to tailor hides to bespoke shoemaking and leather goods requirements.
Quantifiable outcome
- Leather lasts a lifetime with proper care
Companies that use J. & F.J. Baker
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
J. & F.J. Baker technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
J. & F.J. Baker partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Leather UKminorJ. & F.J. Baker is a member of Leather UK, a trade association for the British leather industry. The company has been featured as a 'Leather Advocate' in Leather UK's promotional content.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
J. & F.J. Baker competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ilcea S.p.A. Italian vegetable-tannery (est. 1930) producing traditional vegetable-tanned leathers for luxury leather goods and footwear. Comparable heritage vegetable-tanning process and similar luxury/footwear customer base to Baker.
- Conceria Volpi Concerie Italiane: Italian vegetable-tannery producing traditional bark-tanned leather for luxury leather goods and footwear. Comparable to Baker as a heritage vegetable tanner serving European luxury brands and bespoke shoemakers.
- Badalassi Carlo: Tuscan vegetable tannery producing traditional pit-tanned leathers (e.g., Pueblo, Veg Tan) used by luxury leather goods makers and bespoke craftsmen. Comparable as a slow, traditional vegetable-tanning supplier to a similar artisan customer base.
- Sedgwick & Co: UK traditional saddlery and harness leather maker (est. 1900, Walsall) producing bridle and saddle leather for equestrian customers. Direct comparable for Baker's equestrian leather line and shared UK heritage-tanning customer base.
- Wickett & Craig: North American vegetable-tanned leather tannery (est. 1867) specializing in traditional bark tanning for saddlery, belting, footwear and leather goods. Closely comparable traditional vegetable tanning process and customer base in equestrian, shoe and luxury leather goods.
- Horween Leather Company: One of the oldest continuously operating tanneries in the United States (est. 1905, Chicago), producing Shell Cordovan and traditional vegetable-tanned leathers using heritage processes. Highly comparable to J. & F.J. Baker as a family-run, heritage tannery selling premium specialty leathers to bespoke and luxury end users.
- Tempesti 1938: Italian vegetable-tanning specialist (Tuscany, est. 1938) producing vegetable-tanned leathers for luxury leather goods, footwear and accessories. Comparable traditional vegetable-tanning process and luxury/craftsmanship customer overlap with Baker.
- Tanneries Haas: French traditional tannery (est. 1842) specializing in vegetable-tanned calf and side leathers for the luxury leather goods industry. Comparable as an established European vegetable tanner serving high-end leather goods and footwear brands.
- Hermann Oak Leather: St. Louis-based vegetable-tanner (est. 1881) producing traditional oak-bark and harness leather for saddlery, footwear and leather goods. Comparable as a long-established US oak-bark tannery serving similar equestrian and shoe-making customers.
Others
- Leather UK: British trade association for the leather industry of which J. & F.J. Baker is a member and 'Leather Advocate.' Included as an adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a competitor — comparable in that it represents and promotes UK tanneries but does not produce leather itself.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
J. & F.J. Baker social profiles
Digital presenceJ. & F.J. Baker financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
J. & F.J. Baker leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
J. & F.J. Baker funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
J. & F.J. Baker M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about J. & F.J. Baker
What does J. & F.J. Baker do?
J. & F.J. Baker is Britain's only remaining traditional oak bark tannery, producing luxury oak bark tanned leather hides and cut pieces primarily for shoemakers, saddlers and equestrian craftsmen, interior designers, and luxury leather goods makers. Each piece of leather takes approximately 12–15 months to produce via a traditional water wheel-powered oak bark tannage, preserving natural hide fibres for superior strength and durability.
Is J. & F.J. Baker a public or private company?
J. & F.J. Baker is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was J. & F.J. Baker founded?
J. & F.J. Baker was founded in 1862. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is J. & F.J. Baker based?
J. & F.J. Baker is headquartered in Colyton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does J. & F.J. Baker make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Leather Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are bespoke Colour Orders and leather Splitting Service.
Who are J. & F.J. Baker's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ilcea S.p.A., Conceria Volpi Concerie Italiane, Badalassi Carlo, Sedgwick & Co, Wickett & Craig, Horween Leather Company, Tempesti 1938, Tanneries Haas and Hermann Oak Leather. Leather UK is listed as an others.
Does J. & F.J. Baker have an API?
No public API is recorded for J. & F.J. Baker.
What industry is J. & F.J. Baker in?
J. & F.J. Baker's product category is Tanned Leather Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAOAGAF, Retanning, Dyeing & Fatliquoring, with a secondary code of IMAOAGAB, Hide & Skin Beamhouse Operations (Soaking/Liming/Deliming/Bating). Its NAICS code is 31611 and its SIC code is 3100.