Roberts Bakery, part of family-owned UK firm Frank Roberts and Sons, is ramping up its production capacity through the opening of a new plant.
A spokesperson for the group told just-food the firm plans to spend GBP10m (US$15.1m) on a new 300 square metre facility on its site in Northwich in Cheshire.
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“Work on the… site will begin this summer and is expected to be complete by Easter 2014,” the spokesperson said. “It is the biggest project in the company’s history and will enable the more volume and enable greater distribution of its current portfolio.”
Roberts Bakery produces 1.7m loaves a week. By the end of 2014, the company wants an output of 2.5m loaves a week. Roberts produces a range of products under brands including its new Roberts Bakery Speciality line and its gluten-free Yes! You Can range.
As production increases, the group plans to organically increase distribution “from its regional heartland to Blackpool and along the M1 corridor”, the spokesperson revealed.
The new facility will create 80 jobs, bringing the number of employees in Northwich to approximately 900.
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By GlobalDataAccording to internal company data, Roberts Bakery’s retail value for bread is worth GBP63m. The company is among the fastest-growing UK bakeries and, according to Kantar Worldpanel figures for the 12 weeks to 17 March, sales were up 22% and volumes increased 32%.
