Jones Village Bakery has invested £2m in what it described as one of world’s biggest pancake production lines.
The specialist equipment was imported from the US and will enable the Wrexham-based business to ramp up production to 75 million pancakes a year to cater for growing demand.
The line is 20 metres long, three metres wide and is capable of making 34,000 pancakes an hour. It can make a range of pancakes, from a small Scotch pancake to a large US-style buttermilk pancake measuring seven inches across.
Managing director Robin Jones said the creativity and innovation of the bakery’s product development team had helped drive demand for pancakes in the UK and across Europe.
“The reason we have bought this new production line is quite simply that our pancakes are literally selling like hot cakes,” he said.
“The equipment was delivered just before Christmas and was installed in record time so it’s all systems go for Shrove Tuesday when demand will go through the roof.”
Among the pancake flavours developed by the business are Sicilian lemon, chocolate & butterscotch, and a Percy Pig pancake. It also produces high-protein and high-fibre pancakes.
“This new production line gives us the capability and the capacity to develop new products, new flavours and also it’ll help us cope with the growing demand that we’re seeing, not just here but also in Europe, particularly in France, Belgium and Holland.”
Operations director Simon Thorpe added that the business was selling a lot of American-style products into the French market, with sales growing month on month.
“The secret of making a great pancake his having a good griddle, a brilliant recipe and having the best quality ingredients – and just not accepting any compromise.”
The new production line has been installed at the firm’s 140,000 sq ft bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate, which opened in two years ago following a devastating fire in 2019.
When the line is in full production the business will be taking on an extra 20 staff.
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