Maple Leaf Bakery UK last week made the latest in a string of acquisitions, buying a Bernard Matthews bakery in Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

The site specialises in savoury laminated pastry lines, such as pastry topped with egg and bacon, and employs 81 staff, including 18 agency employees.

Turkey specialist Bernard Matthews said: "This development is part of an ongoing business strategy of focusing on core business areas where Bernard Matthews has a solid heritage and expertise. It has been adopted following a challenging sales period for the business."

Maple Leaf UK MD Peter Maycock admitted that the Dunstable business was "challenging", but was also "an ideal strategic fit".

He added that integration of Maple Leaf’s recent acquisitions were well advanced. These include premium breads supplier La Fornaia, which was taken over in August, and London-based the French Croissant Company, Avance in Maidstone and the former Harvestime bakery in Walsall, which were all bought in 2006.

The Bernard Matthews plant currently produces cakes and sweet and savoury laminated products. Capacity is to be expanded at the site and croissants could be added to the range, said Maycock.

Meanwhile, a new group management structure has been put in place at Maple Leaf UK following a series acquisitions, most recently.

La Fornaia’s former commercial director Ken Glennon is now commercial director across all of Maple Leaf’s bakery businesses, reporting to Maycock.

The company has also extended capacity at its frozen bagel factory in Rotherham.

Maple Leaf Bakery UK is owned by Canada’s Canada Bread.