Warburtons is spending over £100m to support long-term growth, including the acquisition of the former Rathbones bakery site in Wakefield.
The Bolton-based, family-run bakery business revealed it is also investing in new distribution capacity, doubling the size of the gluten free facility in Newburn, and adding three new bakery production lines within its current estate.
Warburtons confirmed it has finalised a deal with the Myton Food Group – Morrisons’ manufacturing arm – to acquire the land, buildings, and all machinery at the currently closed Rathbones bakery for an undisclosed sum. It becomes the 13th production site operated by Warburtons in the UK, with further investments to be made in converting existing lines to manufacture its branded products.
Over 40 jobs across manufacturing, warehouse and distribution will initially be created once the site is fully operational, which is expected to be in September this year, noted Warburtons.
The bakery acquisition is designed to support increasing demand for Warburtons ranges as well as future innovation. The brand sat comfortably in its top spot in the UK rankings last year thanks to a range diversification strategy, growing sales by 2.1% to reach £598.3m [Nielsen data, 52 w/e 6 September 2025]. It stayed comfortably ahead of Hovis in second place, which lost £33.1m in value, with fast-growing brand Jason’s Sourdough rising up into third.
“We’re extremely pleased to have agreed a deal on the former Rathbones site and look forward to welcoming new colleagues to the business very soon,” commented Warburtins chairman Jonathan Warburton. “Our family business takes a long-term approach, investing in our infrastructure to ensure we not only meet consumer needs today, but are set up to do so for the future.”
Meanwhile, Warburtons’ gluten free bakery in Newburn near Newcastle-upon-Tyne is undergoing major redevelopment whilst remaining in operation. The site, which was opened in 2011, will have its footprint doubled with updates focussing on improving innovation, sustainability, and quality – work is expected to be completed by the autumn.
Warburtons is also the bestselling gluten-free bakery brand in the UK, with a range that includes sliced loaves, bread rolls, sandwich thins, wraps, soft pitta bread, and crumpets. It recently expanded this range with new Greek-style flatbreads and Farmhouse loaves.
Other significant investments include a new distribution centre at Biggleswade in Bedfordshire, which is aimed at supporting the company’s wider bakery and depot network to deliver over 2m products to more than 18,500 stores each day.
To meet growing demand for its morning goods, Warburtons is investing in a new pancake line at its Bolton bakery, and two new crumpet lines at its bakery in Burnley. These will also enable further product innovation, it said.
The business also noted that the Ilkeston site it purchased from Roberts Bakery last October had been baking a range of its products including thins and pittas since December. The business currently employs over 5,000 people at 12 bakeries and 18 depots nationwide, and holds a 20% market share with over 70 different products ranging from wrapped loaves to crumpets, pittas, rolls, and bagels.
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