North east bakery chain Bakers Pantry has partnered with Lakes & Dales Co-operative, a northern co-operative group.

Ashington-based Bakers Pantry signed the deal with Lakes & Dales as part of its ongoing expansion plan. The agreement is for Bakers Pantry to supply bakery products for the co-operative’s food-to-go in-store bakery counters across the north of England.

Bakers Pantry will initially be available in two Lakes & Dales stores in Seaton Delaval, which will sell a wide range of savoury and sweet products, including the company’s famous Andersons steak pie.

Lakes & Dales Co-operative is part of Scottish co-operative group Scotmid, which operates 350 retail outlets across Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England. Bakers Pantry was founded in 2015, when it bought and rebranded historic bakery business Donkins of Ashington.

David Crook, managing director of Bakers Pantry, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Lakes & Dales. They place a strong emphasis on providing customers with local products like ours and we share the same passion for quality, freshness and customer service.”

Stephen Brown of Lakes & Dales Cooperative said: “Fresh bakery items are a really important part of our offer – our customers value the convenience of buying their favourite baked goods, savouries and cakes at their local grocery store.”