A double investment of \u00a347 million at a fast growing bakery in North Wales will create 150 new jobs.<\/p>\n
The Jones Village Bakery has revealed it\u2019s going to be installing a \u00a320 million state-of-the-art production line to make bread and rolls at its headquarters site on Wrexham Industrial Estate.<\/p>\n
When it becomes operational, the 140,000 sq ft bakery in Ash Road will be full to capacity.<\/p>\n
At the same time the company is planning to convert and extend a storage facility that was built on the nearby site of the company\u2019s bakery that was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2019.<\/p>\n
The scheme will see an additional investment of \u00a327 million and the new bakery will enable the company to continue to ramp up production.<\/p>\n
CEO Simon Thorpe said: \u201cThis is the beginning of yet another new and exciting chapter in the Village Bakery success story.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur plan is to rise, phoenix-like from the ashes and turn the old fire site where the bakery burned down into a state-of-the-art facility<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce again we will be marrying the very best equipment available with our craft bakery skills so we can make even more fantastic products in greater volume.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs well as creating 30 jobs at the new bakery, it\u2019s going to give us the ability to deliver truly innovative products with the equipment and capability being installed.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the new production line in the company\u2019s flagship bakery in Ash Road is due to be up and running before the end of the year.<\/p>\n
It was built in the aftermath of the disastrous fire nearly six years ago and is four times the size of the one it replaced.<\/p>\n
Projects director Kris Green said: \u201cWe have some really fantastic people who work for the Village Bakery and my role is to give them the best possible tools to do the job so they can continue to innovate and bake the best bread in the business.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe additional capacity is needed because of our burgeoning order book thanks to the growing appetite for our products, not just here in the UK but also across Europe and as far afield as Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to enable us to make a wider range of products with a real focus on quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a proud moment for Robin Jones who has steered the company, both as managing director and CEO, during a period of spectacular growth.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cBetween them, these two major investments will create 150 new jobs \u2013 30 of them at the site of the former bakery that was destroyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a heartbreaking experience but thankfully nobody was hurt and our darkest day also became our finest hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are now growing faster than ever and his is great news for Wrexham and the local economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Nigel Williams, Wrexham County Borough Council\u2019s Lead member for Economy, Business and Tourism, was briefed about the expansion plans during a tour of the bakery.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI\u2019ve obviously been aware of the Village Bakery brand for years, being a Wrexham person myself and what I\u2019ve seen and heard today is fantastic.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow they bounced back after the fire and the growth they\u2019ve had since then is phenomenal \u2013 the company is a great ambassador for Wrexham.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to hear that they have the confidence to continue investing in Wrexham \u2013 their commitment to Wrexham is 100 per cent and the extra jobs coming here are great news for the local economy.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very much a family brand and a place to work with a family ethos which is nice to see nowadays.\u201d<\/p>\n