The Honesty Group is to expand its bakery wholesale business and open two new coffee shops in the south west of England.

The Berkshire-based group, which has grown staff numbers by 28 in the last 12 months, currently has eight coffee shops, the Crown & Garter pub and Honest Bakery, in its portfolio.

Located in Turnpike, Newbury, the flagship site produces freshly baked artisan breads, pastries, tarts, cakes and biscuits for clients including hotels, farm shops and restaurants, but now intends to increase supply and distribution to operators, particularly in the south west.

The company said projected 2019 growth for the bakery stood at 28.6%.

“Our business all started with bread and wanting to take a different approach to food and how it gets to the consumer,” said Romilla Arber, founder of The Honesty Group (pictured right).

“To be focusing on expanding Honesty Bakery ahead of our fifth birthday in September is really exciting and something that is very close to my heart. We’ve worked hard to create products that are all freshly made, with no chemical adulteration, providing peace of mind as well as a delicious treat.”

The bakery, which employs four full-time artisan bakers and four full-time pastry chefs, uses local organic, stoneground flour, and all the doughs are folded and shaped by hand.

It produces new products monthly and makes speciality breads including sourdough, Italian rosemary & sea salt and black olive bread, alongside traditional English loaves such as bloomers, sandwich tin, white and wholemeal.