UK-based bakery group Warburtons has unveiled proposals to build a research and development centre and test bakery adjoining its Bolton headquarters in north-west England.

The privately-owned business is asking local planning chiefs to approve construction of the two-storey 2,278 square metre facility, together with office and staff facilities. The site will built outside the secure perimeter of the existing bakery plant and “have more of an open campus feel”, Warburtons said in its application.

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Warburtons said the proposed new building will be a “private facility” for company employees. The R&D centre will focus on “the testing and production of new bakery products”. In addition, the facility will house “quality control laboratories and dry stores to aid in the process of analysing and evaluating the products”.

The primary use of the ground floor will be for R&D including “a large test bakery, milling room, dry ingredients store and cold/frozen stores”. The first floor will be mainly for administration offices and meeting spaces. 

A Warburtons spokesperson told just-food today (12 January): “If the planning is granted, the new research and development centre will provide state-of-the-art facilities so we can continue to deliver unbeatable quality and breakthrough product innovation to families across the UK.”

Earlier this month, Warburtons added Toastie Pockets to its range in the UK, which the company described as a “toastie you toast in the toaster”.

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