Former Roberts Bakery boss David Roberts has been recognised with a Lifetime Honorary Award from the British Society of Baking (BSB).

A third-generation baker, Roberts has dedicated over 50 years of his life to the business since joining in the mid-fifties following the death of his father Frank. During his time there, he held the roles of production director, managing director and latterly chairman – from which he retired in 2006.

Throughout his leadership, investment was made into the bakery’s capacity seeing an increase to 90,000 loaves a week by 1962.

Since then, the numbers have continued to grow and the bakery now serves major supermarkets across the UK from plants in Cheshire and Derbyshire. It employs 900 people and is run by the fourth generation of the Roberts family.

“I’m very happy to have received the Lifetime Honorary Award from the British Society of Baking,” said David Roberts.

“The bakery industry is quite literally in the family’s blood and it’s most rewarding to look back on where we have come and to where we are now heading with the future of the brand. There are many exciting time ahead that I’m looking forward to being part of as a family member.”

He joined the BSB in 1971, working on various committees over the next two decades, and took up the role of chairman from 1981 to 1982.

“David continues to support us and conferences to this day and embodies everything that is good about being a member of the BSB,” said Richard Hazeldine, chairman of the British Society of Baking.

British Baker subscribers can read more about the history of Roberts Bakery here.

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