Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery has resumed operations in a new £27 million facility, seven years after its flagship site was destroyed by fire.
The blaze, which broke out in 2019, left the business in turmoil, but in the intervening years the firm has been able to rebuild steadily and says it has now tripled its turnover.
Staff numbers have also grown significantly, from 500 to more than 1,200, with this latest investment creating an additional 75 roles across the company’s operations, including 30 at the newly opened site.
Operating from its new “state-of-the-art” factory, Jones Village Bakery claims it is among “the most modern in Europe”.
Among the first visitors to the site, on Wrexham Industrial Estate, was Nigel Williams, Wrexham County Borough Council’s lead member for economy, business and tourism.
The fire, which broke out on 19 August 2019, required three crews, eight engines and an aerial ladder platform before it could be brought under control, underlining the intensity of the blaze.
Established in 1934, Jones Village Bakery produces a range of baked goods, including bread and pies, and operates across Wales and the border regions of England.
Williams said: “The phoenix rising from the ashes is a bit of a cliché but that’s what it is. From where they were in 2019, they have more than doubled the number of staff and trebled their turnover. Lesser companies would have folded.”
“They pledged at the time that there would be no redundancies and that loyalty has been repaid. It is quite inspiring to hear what they have achieved. There is still a family feel to the company even though there are 1,200 working here now.”
He continued: “The technology in the new bakery they have has blown my mind. It’s a masterpiece of engineering and design. This must be the most modern bakery in Europe. The company is hugely important to the economy of Wrexham because it’s not just about the people who work here, it’s also about their supply chain and the contractors they use.”
