Sweet treat specialist Dougie’s Goodies has acquired fellow Northern Irish firm Kirks Home Bakery.
The deal, made for an undisclosed fee, sees Ballymena-based Dougie’s acquire Kirks’ two Belfast shops on Sandy Row and Crumlin Road as well as its dedicated production site in the city. It will also create 20 new jobs across the region.
All existing staff at family-run Kirks are being retained including management, with the shops to carry on under the same branding and continue selling its product range including traditional bread and fresh cream-filled bakes. A spokesperson for Dougie’s told British Baker that it will support Kirks behind the scenes as well as looking to refresh and enhance things at the shops while “maintaining their well-loved identity”.
Since being founded by Robert and Sonya Kirk in 1995 in the heart of Belfast, Kirks has grown to supply cafés, delis, and restaurants across the city as well as building a reputation as a staple in the community for its retail sites. In 2020, it expanded its delivery fleet to keep up with rising customer demand.
“Baking has always been my passion, and Kirks has been a labour of love for 30 years,” commented co-founder Robert Kirk. “I’m delighted to see our legacy continue as part of the Dougie’s Goodies family.
“It’s the perfect partnership – one that ensures our customers continue to enjoy the same great products, now with even more resources and creativity behind them,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dougie’s has set its sights on reaching 100 stockists across Northern Ireland over the next 12 months. It currently supplies sweet bakery goods – such as its signature Iced Diamonds, French Fancies, and Jammy Dougies – to 55 stores of retail chains including Euro Spar, Spar, SuperValu, Centra, Nisa, and Mace.
Frank Warwick and his wife Georgina purchased the business in 2022 from founder Douglas Coulter, who had set it up with his partner Christine in 1983. Both original owners are still employed by the company, which opened a second shop in Belfast last year.
Products are manufactured at a 20,000 sq ft bakery on Church Street in Ballymena, which Dougie’s confirmed has the capacity to supply the targeted expansion of its wholesale customer base. To help realise its growth ambition, the firm is currently recruiting 20 new staff across various business departments including positions as bakers, packers, cake couriers, and more.
“We’re proud to be a Ballymena business on the rise, and we know that our people are at the heart of our success,” said owner Frank Warwick. “This expansion is about more than just growth – it’s about creating meaningful job opportunities for local talent and ensuring our customers continue to enjoy the quality and creativity that makes Dougies Goodies special.”
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