Warburtons has been selected among the Sunday Times’ Best Big Companies list for the second year in a row.

The bakery brand remains the only food manufacturer to make the list since the survey first launched in 2001, with the majority of places occupied by retailers and professional services companies.

The Best Companies survey compiles the views of employees on eight key areas, including wellbeing, leadership and personal development, to give the business an overall ranking.

Jonathan Warburton, chairman of Warburtons, said the company was incredibly proud to be recognised as a great place to work.

“This is a testament to the hard work, passion and commitment of everyone in our family business,” he said.

“The manufacturing and distribution sector continues to be a tough industry to work in and recruit for, but we are very proud to say that the 4,500 people who run our 26 bakery and depot sites continue to feel valued, well looked after and proud to work for us.

“This makes the honour of being on the Best Big Company list even more meaningful and makes our job so much more worthwhile.”

The survey took place in September 2016 and the results were announced last Friday (24 February 2017).