Bakery multinational Aryzta plans to target UK supermarkets with its full range of speciality breads and pastries by building on the links of its newly acquired Honeytop business with the big retailers.

In its most recent annual report, the company, which was formed in 2008 through the merger of IAWS and Hiestand, revealed that it had acquired flatbreads producer Honeytop Speciality Foods. It now plans to use the Dunstable-based firm’s relationships with the supermarkets to develop retail sales for its other bakery brands, which include Delice de France, Cuisine de France and La Brea.

"Aryzta’s main customers in the UK are limited-ser-vice restaurants, independents, convenience stores and the foodservice markets. Retail is an area in which we are not well-established," said Aryzta’s communications manager Paul Meade. "We plan to leverage Honeytop’s access to, and relationships with, the super- markets for our full range of products. It gives us the chance to go into ISBs with our artisan bakery products."

He added that there were also opportunities to export Honey-top’s products across Europe, while the manufacturing technology at the company’s factory could be replicated in other Aryzta sites around the world.

Honeytop has been investing heavily in technology, injecting £9m last year to double capacity at its plant, which included an extra 140,000sq ft of production space and high-speed tortilla lines.