U-Bake is investing £1.6m to improve manufacturing capacity and efficiency at its site in Derry, with 15 new jobs being created.
The fourth-generation family business, founded in 1916 and known locally as McDaid’s Bakery, supplies fresh and frozen bakery products for foodservice, retail, and wholesale customers across Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Scotland. Its range includes flavoured sausage rolls in a variety of sizes, as well as breads, rolls, scones, cakes, traybakes, muffins, and biscuits.
Invest Northern Ireland’s Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII) is supporting £210k of the total investment, which is being spent on installing a new high-speed production line for high-volume products, robotic packing technology, and increased freezing capacity at U-Bake’s 30,000 sq ft facility on Skeoge Industrial Estate. It will also go towards developing new skills among existing team members.
U-Bake managing director John McDaid said demand for their products continues to grow, particularly within the Irish foodservice sector, but existing production capacity limits how much they can supply.
“This investment in production equipment, automation and additional freezing capacity will help us increase output and bring new products to market more quickly, including specialist and plant-based bakery products that respond to changing consumer preferences,” he revealed.
“Alongside creating 15 new roles, the project will help our existing team develop skills in modern production and automation technologies. It is the first step in our long-term growth plans, enabling us to meet demand in Ireland while preparing to attract new customers across Britain and Europe,” McDaid added.
Gráinne Moody, director of food and drink at Invest NI, described U-Bake as a long-established business with deep roots in the local area and a strong reputation for supplying quality bakery products across Ireland. “Our latest support through AFII will help U-Bake overcome bottlenecks and reduce downtime between product runs, supporting the company to supply larger volumes and bring more of its product range to new markets,” she said.
Northern Irish food-to-go supplier Deli Lites was a previous beneficiary of Invest NI’s AFII scheme, which offered support for a £19m investment last year to increase capacity and broaden its product range.
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