Continuous strike action had been planned for today (24 September) by Unite the Union-affiliated employees at the British baking giant’s Avonmouth facility near Bristol as part of an ongoing pay dispute.
The planned industrial action by around 60 distribution drivers would have created a tangible risk of bread shortages in supermarkets and retail outlets across the South West and into the West Midlands.
Avonmouth supplies shops across the region with Hovis products, including bread and other bakery items such as burger buns and muffins. Thousands of loaves of bread are produced at the site every hour.
Staff had been offered a 3% pay rise, which Unite said amounted to a real-terms pay cut, with the current Retail Prices Index (RPI) standing at 3.4%.
However, following late-night negotiations, strike plans have been paused to allow workers to vote on a new pay offer tabled by Hovis.
Unite regional officer John Sweeney said: “After fresh negotiations, we have decided to pause industrial action to allow members to have their say on a new offer from Hovis.”
The core of the dispute centres on additional benefits. Unite says workers at the Belfast depot have been offered a commission of two pence per product for all items sold and a holiday premium rate equal to an additional 50% of the contracted basic hourly rate for employees who work on more than five designated holidays, including Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, in addition to the 3% pay rise.
Workers in Bristol are seeking the same enhancements.
In July, Associated British Foods (ABF) acquired Hovis in a deal worth around £75 million.
ABF’s annual report, released in September 2025, showed the company recorded an adjusted operating profit of £1.73 billion.
