Geary’s Bakery receives £4.5M investment

The factory would allow the company to expand its production line and is expected to create new jobs for the local community.  

Md Jason Geary said the funding from NatWest would allow the business to grow, while maintaining its traditional craft methods and values.

“We are committed to the local community. We’re also grateful that the investment from NatWest will not only allow us to construct the new factory, but enable us to give back to Leicester in the form of job creation.”​

Regional Growth Fund​

The funding package was created by NatWest, with help from the government’s Regional Growth Fund through the University of Derby.

Martin Arnold, senior relationship manager at NatWest, said: “NatWest is proud to support Geary’s Bakery. A century and over 4,000 awards later, the company is a true example of a business built on sound family values and quality produce. ​

“There’s something very rewarding about helping a family business like this one get to the next level. We wish the Geary family continued success.”​

Plans to build the new factory at Optimus Point, Glenfield, were approved by Blaby District Council in September last year.

Increasing its production​

The new factory will bake Geary’s open-topped bread and a selection of its rolls, increasing its production to 1M loaves and 5M rolls a week. Geary’s expected the building work to cost £13M.

Established in 1906, Geary’s moved to Barrow upon Soar in 2012, following a £1.5M investment. It had a turnover of £20M last year.

It has worked with Aldi for the past 12 years, supplying the discount supermarket with breads and rolls. Geary’s also supplies to food manufacturers, including Greencore, Samworth Brothers and Buckingham Foods.

Meanwhile, 13 food and drink manufacturers have received a total of £3.5M in grants from the Scottish government​ to diversify and expand their operations, including Scotch whisky producer Douglas Laing & Co and Aberdeenshire-based Maxwell Farms.