In 2019, firefighters arrived to find the blaze had completely ripped through the one-storey production area of the bakery’s flagship site, spreading to an adjoining office block.
The business promptly revealed plans for its ‘super bakery’ just a year later, building a facility that stretches across 140,000 sq ft – three times the size of the one that burnt down.
This ‘super bakery’ had already been part of Jones Village Bakery’s plans, but following the fire its location was moved to a spot down the road. Despite the loss of its headquarters, 2020 saw Village Bakery reporting a turnover higher than pre-fire levels, due to increased production at its other three sites. The investment into the new Ash Road site also saw the business increase its team from 350 to 1,050 in the process.
Last year saw further good news for the bakery firm, which revealed a £20 million bread and rolls line would be installed at the site of the fire.
With this new bakery poised for production later this year, the business says a further 100 jobs are set to be created.
“We’re due to be starting production in the new bakery at the fire site in August. As cliched as it may sound, it’s a phoenix from the ashes. It will be wonderful to breathe new life into that site,” commented CEO Simon Thorpe.
“The growth we have seen since then has been phenomenal and that’s down to our brilliant team.
“We not only survived but thrived when many others would have folded. Our darkest day became our finest hour.
“It will be an emotional moment for all of us when the new bakery gets going.
“We all had some very difficult times back in August 2019 but working together and having a purpose to rebuild from minute one – not a single person shied away from that.
“That was the day we saw the true spirit of the Village Bakery shining through. We had a job to do and we got on and did it. We pulled together and worked hard.”
There are also plans for future expansion with a 70,000 sq ft extension to its main bakery in the offing.
Thorpe added: “It’s exciting times because we’ve only just finished installing a second rolls line and we can see that it is going to be full by the end of the year so the extension on the cards for the future and there is outline planning permission for that already.
“We’re very proud of what we have achieved in the past and those roots will always be at the heart of what we do but we have never been satisfied with where we are – and that’s not going to change.”
