2 Sisters Food Group has invested £10m in a new state-of-the-art bakery extension at its Gunstones Bakery site in Dronfield, near Sheffield. 

The new facility will provide 25% additional capacity to the site and will focus on producing hot cross buns and iced and spiced products, allowing the business to grow in key categories.

The new line – called ‘Bake 4’, will eventually be producing up to six different products in a day once it is fully commissioned.

Planning for the project has been ongoing for 18 months in order to fulfil customer demand for increased volumes of hot cross buns.

Kirk Connor, Gunstones site director, said: “We’re well-known for baking some of the best products in the business, and this new facility will only enhance that reputation. We’re really delighted to have got this on track and show our customers and our employees that we mean business.”

Local MP for North East Derbyshire Natascha Engel added: “I was very impressed with the new facility and hope that this will bring in more contracts for Gunstones Bakery.”

The new facility is a refurbished warehouse building on the site, which has been stripped down to the metal frame and started again.

Leading-edge equipment, including ovens and proofers from Italy, has been installed.

Gunstones family bakery was founded in 1862. It produces hot cross buns, iced and spiced rolls, sushi and sandwich rolls across its chilled and frozen divisions and employs 1,000 people.