Manufacturing
Mergers & Acquisitions
Good News for Roberts Bakery and their staff
Frank Roberts & Sons Limited has been acquired by Boparan Private Office securing the future of the 138-year-old Northwich bakery and preserving 433 jobs.
Business
Roberts Bakery in Talks with Potential Partners as Administrator Notice Filed
Roberts Bakery files Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators whilst in talks with potential partners. The Cheshire bakery producing 3.5m loaves weekly faces challenges from fire damage, cost inflation and market shifts towards artisan products.
New products
Northern Ireland Bakeries Secure Tesco Listings with 31 New Product Lines
Tesco Northern Ireland adds 31 bakery products from six regional suppliers including Irwin's Bakery, Genesis Bakery, and Holmes Bakery. The expansion follows 11% year-on-year growth in local cake category sales, with partnerships generating over £4 million annually for some suppliers.
Funding & investment
Fermentation technologies could add £10bn to UK economy by 2050, research finds
Innovative methods of producing food through fermentation could add nearly £10 billion to the UK economy by 2050, according to new analysis.
Plant-based
Artisan Baker Scales Plant-Based Production with New Loaf Launch
Swindon-based Pipp & Co expands beyond doughnuts with vegan banana walnut loaf, producing 25,000+ units weekly. SALSA-certified bakery demonstrates commercial viability of plant-based range expansion for industrial bakers.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Italian Fermentation Specialist Millbio Acquires US Clean-Label Manufacturer
Italian ingredient specialist Millbio acquires US manufacturer Cain Foods through private equity firm Apheon, creating a vertically integrated clean-label bakery solutions platform spanning Europe, Asia and the Americas with combined fermentation, manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
Packaging
When Brits Can't Leave Home Without Their Loaf: A Case Study in Consumer Attachment
New research reveals 18% of British holidaymakers pack bread when travelling abroad, prompting Warburtons to develop protective luggage cases. Consumer data shows 50% of UK travellers take food from home, highlighting potential opportunities for European bakeries in tourist markets and travel-friendly packaging innovation.
Partner content
Baking Dreams Come True with Middleby Bakery
Middleby Bakery, a global leader in industrial baking solutions, is set to make a significant impact at IBIE 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. With an extensive portfolio of trusted brands and cutting-edge innovations, Middleby is redefining the efficient automation of quality product processing lines and system integrations, establishing a new standard for industrial baking innovation.