Bakery firm Warburtons said it would enable the company to meet growing demand and support the future growth of the company.
A spokesperson for Warburtons said: “To support the future growth of Warburtons, we have purchased the Roberts Bakery site in Ilkeston. This will provide us with further capacity to meet demand in a growing segment of the bakery market. We have enjoyed a positive relationship with the Roberts family for many years and wish them all the best for the future.”
The news comes as it was also revealed that Roberts Bakery parent company Frank Roberts & Sons Ltd had been saved out of administration by the private investment enterprise, Boparan Private Office, owned by entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan – saving over 400 jobs.
Roberts Bakery 1887 Ltd will form part of the Boparan Private Office portfolio of companies.
It followed Roberts Bakery revealing earlier this month that it had published a Notice of Intention to appoint administrators.
In August this year Roberts Bakery revealed it would be closing the Ilkeston site as it “no longer aligned” with the firms future plans. The Derbyshire site was focused on speciality bread and morning goods and 38 jobs were reportedly at risk.
The company has also revealed plans to cut 250 jobs from its Northwich site that experienced a devastating fire in June 2023.
Roberts Bakery said it had been unable to recover sales volumes to pre-fire levels as many customers had secured alternative supply contracts.
Earlier this year it was revealed that Oscar winning actress Olivia Colman was to star in a new TV advert for Warburtons.
The two minute advert named ‘The Inspection’ sees Colman visit the Bolton-based baker’s under the rise of determining whether Warburtons crumpets are worthy of ‘National Treasure’ status.
