Speciality Breads, the Margate-based wholesale bakery, is to open a new £3m bakery as it revealed it is seeing 30% year-on-year growth and is nearing a £6m turnover.

The new 3,000sq m site is situated on Westwood Industrial Estate in Margate, just down the road from the company’s current bakery. It will produce around 20 handmade lines, while providing essential extra cold storage, work space and ovens for the team’s artisan bakers. The grand opening of the new site will take place next month.

The investment includes five additional freezers, three ovens and a state-of-the-art packing line with robotics, which will allow for a four-fold increase in the company’s production capacity.

Speciality Breads provides a wide range of premium, freshly-frozen breads to wholesalers, who in turn supply restaurants, pubs, cafés and hotels throughout the UK.

Big splash

Peter Millen, managing director of Speciality Breads, said: “The company has gone from strength to strength since we made a big splash at the Olympics with our high-quality breads, now used by leading bars, pubs, cafés, restaurants, hotels and caterers. With the UK foodservice sector as vibrant and diverse as it is and interest in our breads going through the roof, this new site was vital for us in order to keep up with demand and continue to grow.”

The company has created over 25 new jobs in 2015, with the workforce growing by 30% in anticipation of the increased production capabilities. Speciality Breads has also introduced the government’s National Living Wage six months ahead of legislative requirements and it is offering it to all staff, not just those aged over 25.

“It has been a hard but exciting last few years, so the whole team is looking forward to the big launch,” added Millen. “Without them none of this is possible, so we are delighted to be able introduce the National Living Wage ahead of time to show our thanks and ensure we retain our skilled staff and grow together.”
Established in 1996, Speciality Breads provides an ever-growing premium selection of more than 100 frozen breads, which are handmade by the company’s master bakers, using Red Tractor-certified British flour.

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