The move is part of a wider strategic restructuring of its operations at the Cheshire site, which experienced a devastating fire in June 2023.
The fire meant that two thirds of the site’s bread production capacity was lost for more than a year.
The bakery firm has invested heavily in the site since then to rebuild production, but despite its “best efforts” bread volumes have not rebounded as anticipated, with many Roberts customers having secured alternative supply contracts during the recovery period.
As part of the restructure, Roberts has proposed between 225 and 250 redundancies across various departments, with a formal consultation period of at least 45 days set to begin shortly. This includes changes at the board and director level, although no further details have been provided.
Affected employees will be “fully supported with individual meetings, practical assistance, and consideration of voluntary redundancy where feasible”, the firm said.
Employees at the firm’s other sites in Ilkeston and Winsford will be unaffected by these changes. As of September 2024, Roberts Bakery employed around 700 people across its three sites.
“We have faced unprecedented challenges in the last 24 months with longer term implications for our business than we anticipated,” commented Mike Roberts, deputy chair of Roberts Bakery.
“We do not take decisions to restructure lightly, we know its impact on our people, but at the same time we must ensure we are fit for purpose going forward.
“We are absolutely committed to providing high-quality bread to customers across the region and maintaining the values that have defined our reputation for generations. We must continue to adapt to the turbulent market conditions, prioritising financial sustainability and operational efficiency to safeguard the future.”
In other news, The Compleat Food Group is recalling two scotch egg products because they have been contaminated with Salmonella.
