Bakkavor, the fresh prepared food manufacturer, has launched a recruitment drive to find 200 new staff for its bread division.

The recruits would work at the company’s Crewe and Nantwich sites in Cheshire primarily as factory operatives to meet rising demand for its products. The positions are permanent with continental shift patterns across both day and night shifts.

A recruitment day was held at the Crewe site on Saturday (15 September) for potential applicants to see what the business has to offer, with a second to take place on Wednesday 26 September.

The two sites, which currently employ more than 670 people, produce more than 11 million bread-based items each week with an average of 50 different types of product being run at any one time. Chilled pre-cooked breads, such as flatbreads, doughballs, garlic baguettes and slices, are among these items.

“Bakkavor Bread continues to expand and the recruitment drive shows that demand for our delicious chilled breads continues to grow,” said Paul Peachey, business director for Bakkavor Bread & Pizza.

The 200-job recruitment drive is part of a broader Bakkavor initiative across the country. Last year, they employed an additional 2,000 people as it increased capacity.

Bakkavor Bread said it prides itself on employee benefits and its commitment to training and development. In partnership with Reaseheath College in Nantwich, the business has developed a bakery qualification as well as Food and Drink Operator training under the Apprenticeship levy program, both of which are on offer to all employees.

The business has also partnered with Sir William Stanier School in Crewe to give students the opportunity to better understand how their subjects are relevant to many food manufacturing roles and what workplace skills they need to develop.

Earlier this month it was announced that Bakkavor Group had purchased the Haydens Bakery business.