UK’s biggest bakery brand makes £100m announcement after 150 years | UK | News
Warburtons, the UK’s leading bakery brand, has announced a major investment of £100 million to celebrate its 150th anniversary, to prepare the business for long-term growth. This includes the purchase of the former Rathbones bakery site in Wakefield, as well as investing in new distribution capacity. It is also investing in doubling the size of its Gluten-Free facility and three new baking production lines within its existing land.
A deal has been completed with Myton Food Group to purchase the land, buildings and all machinery at the former Rathbones bakery site for an undisclosed sum. It announced that it would invest in the development of the currently closed facility for the production of Warburtons branded products. The facility, which will be the 13th site for the Warburtons family of bakeries, has been acquired to support growing consumer demand and future innovation for the brand’s high-quality baked goods. More than 40 jobs will initially be created in manufacturing, warehouse and distribution.
The new facility is expected to be fully operational in September. Chairman Jonathan Warburton said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement on the former Rathbones site and look forward to welcoming our new colleagues to work very soon.
“Our family business takes a long-term approach, investing in our infrastructure to ensure we not only meet consumer needs today but are prepared to do so in the future.”
Warburtons is also investing in the development of a state-of-the-art gluten-free bakery in Newburn. It is also investing in a new distribution center in Biggleswade, which will support its wider network of bakeries and warehouses that will distribute more than 2 million products to more than 18,500 stores each day.
The chain said demand for crepes and pancakes has increased. So it invested in a new pancake line at its Bolton bakery and two new crepe lines at its bakery in Burnley.
The company currently employs more than 5,000 people in its 12 bakeries and 18 warehouses across Great Britain. It currently has 12 bakeries and 18 warehouses across the UK.
The company, which has a 20% market share according to the iconic bakery brand, produces over 70 different products, from wrapped loaf to pancakes, pita bread, rolls and bagels.
