Roberts Bakery has announced a leadership reshuffle which sees Julia Banton promoted to managing director and Bill Thurston to CEO.
Banton is stepping up from operations director while Thurston, who has served as MD for the past two years, will now focus on the overall strategic direction for the Cheshire-based manufacturer.
Banton joined the business in 2022 as operations director, after relocating back to the area from Canada. She has since helped lead the rebuild of the Northwich bakery since a devastating fire in June 2023, as well as managing the relocation of Roberts Biscuits to Winsford as part of the company’s ‘most important operational overhaul in decades’.
With over 27 years’ experience in the food industry, Banton brings a wealth of experience in both financial and operational capacities to the MD position. She previously held vice president roles at companies including Northern Foods, Nestlé, and The Kraft Heinz Company in both the UK and overseas.
Roberts noted that Banton will be responsible for maintaining a commitment to keeping its long-standing reputation for superior quality alive – something it is currently promoting in its ‘Back to our Best’ campaign.
“I want to share my expertise and best-in-class practices I have learnt throughout my career and continue to deliver them into the Roberts family business,” she commented.
“Roberts is proud to be a fourth generation family-owned business, with over 130 years of baking heritage. This year, as we embark on our biggest ever fully integrated £1.5m marketing campaign, we want to build on our core USPs; our heritage and our quality of products,” Banton added.
Despite its recent difficulties, parent company Frank Roberts & Sons reported sales growth of 8% in its latest financial results (to 25 August 2023), with a turnover of £96 million. Employing over 700 people locally, the business now has three ‘Centres of Excellence’, one for bread at Northwich, one for specialty bread and morning goods in Derbyshire, and a biscuit division in Winsford.
In addition to producing it flagship range of Roberts branded prepack loaves, it also supplies various own-label bakery products and branded biscuits, and upholds partnerships with major sandwich suppliers.
The Northwich site benefitted from a multi-million pound cash injection following the fire, which secured the rebuild of bakeries and helped make significant upgrades to manufacturing equipment. “We have been through a tough time over the past 15 months but we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel,” said Banton.
“Our employees have been phenomenal in adapting their ways of working to continue to deliver our products to our customers. Throughout the process we have managed to retain our headcount, retaining the years of baking expertise within the Roberts business. I feel honoured to have the opportunity to lead the Roberts team.”
Banton revealed the business was looking to regain its market share within its northwest “Heartland region” through a core range of bestselling lines as well as “some exciting product innovation”. Among these are Tiger loaves and rolls, a range of healthier breads with grains and seeds, and some returning favourites which have been out of production.
“We are excited for the next chapter of growth for Roberts, as we look to growing our distribution points and listings in the near future,” added Banton.
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