Sunblest pancake production has been overhauled at Kingsmill owner Allied Bakery’s East Belfast plant. 

The £1m investment has gone towards robotic packing equipment for the Sunblest brand, as well as modernisation, upgrades and “growing operations” across the bakery as a whole. The Sunblest pancake equipment enables the bakery to produce over 2.5 million pancakes per week.

The bakery has also put money into training its workforce, a move that it said would enable it to remain “multi-skilled”. This was in an effort to extend the company’s existing customer base and export market.

Peter Henry, general manager of Allied Bakeries Ireland, said of the investment: “It will enable us to keep shelves continuously stocked for all the major Northern Ireland food retailers that we supply.”

He added: “The investment we have made has led to increased output, improved ergonomics and health and safety for our staff.”

This week, strike action and a possible hot cross bun shortage were avoided, following successful talks between Allied Bakeries and union officials.