More than 170 jobs at UK baker Warburtons are under threat after the company decided to close a production plant.

Warburtons has entered into a 90-day consultation period on the planned closure of the bakery in Oldham, which employs 174 staff.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

The company said the closure would mean it could produce and distribute its products “more efficiently”.

Warburtons managing director Robert Higginson insisted closing the bakery was a “difficult” decision to make and said the company would work with the staff affected by the closure and “explore all available options”.

“The proposed changes are designed to improve our manufacturing and distribution operations which will help us better meet the demands of our customers and consumers across the UK,” Higginson added.

The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, which represents staff at the site, could not be reached for immediate comment.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

Excellence in Action
Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

Discover the Impact