Wrights Baked Milk Chocolate Cookie

Source: Wrights Food Group

A spike in customer demand for high volumes of sweet bakery products is behind a £1m investment project by Wrights Food Group.

With the company’s latest forecasts predicting a 20% growth in demand for sweet bakery products from existing and new customers, the manufacturer – which supplies savoury and sweet bakery products as well as ready meals to retail and foodservice operators – has invested in a second double drum spiral freezer to process high volumes of cookies and doughnuts while maximising existing production space.

The installation project includes extensive groundworks, a water tower extension and additional electrical and plumbing works, Wrights said.

“Our three-year plan assumes a significant increase in production of sweet bakery products following new contract wins and increasing orders from current customers,” said Neville Carruthers, group operations director. “Investment in an additional freezer gives us the space to more than double our capacity, ensuring we meet the demands of foodservice, hospitality and retail customers.”

The last two years have seen a period of significant change for Wrights Food Group, which saw a 20% increase in retail sales and the introduction of food-to-go sub brands including vending operation Urban Bistro and commercial food delivery service Wrights Bites, alongside the addition of its onsite Sheaf Street bakery.

As a recent addition to the Compleat Food Group, Wrights leadership team continues to develop and implement its strategic plan for the next stage of business expansion.

“This is an immensely exciting time as we embrace the benefits of being part of a larger group while building on almost a century of Wright’s quality food production across our multiple site business which – as demonstrated with our latest investment – has the capacity to accommodate growth, innovate and move quickly on customer briefs,” said Helen Bowyer, commercial director.

Wrights Food Group operates with a team of 600 across two sites in Crewe and includes 15 north-west high street stores.