Bakers Basco crates

Source: Bakers Basco

Bakers Basco has reported a 54% increase in the number of its Omega bread baskets recovered in the second half 2020 compared with the previous six months.

The company, which supplies bread baskets and dollies to the baking industry, put an additional £1m worth of equipment into the system in March to address pressure in the supply chain caused by panic buying at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

During the first lockdown, many household waste and recycling centre locations temporarily halted the collection of some or all recyclable materials, leading to blockages and a build-up of equipment in the supply chain. This left Bakers Basco’s baskets and dollies exposed for longer periods of time, increasing the chances of theft or misappropriation of the equipment.

As lockdown restrictions started to ease, however, the organisation’s recovery team were able to recover 54% more Omega baskets in the second half of 2020, as well as 41% more Omega dollies.

At the same time, Bakers Basco saw a 53% increase in the total number of visits made by its dedicated recovery team, resulting in improved attrition rates towards the end of last year.

“While it was encouraging to see business getting back on track towards the second half of 2020, clearly we are facing another tough challenge in these uncertain times with the latest lockdown in place and must continue to be vigilant of the immediate impact this will have on our business,” said Bakers Basco general manager Paul Empson.

Bakers Basco was set up in 2006 to create an industry-wide solution for transporting bread and morning goods, and to tackle the persistent problem of bread basket attrition.

Originally backing the venture were plant bakery giants Allied Bakeries, Hovis, Fine Lady Bakeries, Frank Roberts & Sons and Warburtons. Over the past 14 years membership has increased to cover 21 user members, accounting for the dispatch of more than three million baskets each week.