Leading Irish artisan bakery My Own bakery in Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, has been sold by Siobhan Walsh, the woman who started the business five years ago, writes Hugh Oram.

Walsh sold the business for an undisclosed sum to a Dublin-based food processing company, CWK Food Processing of Baldoyle, Dublin. The owner of CWK Jim Kilbride said he intends to run the bakery along its present lines,without making major changes.

The business was set up by Walsh on her 150-year-old family farm, where she had a bakery built. The bakery employs six full-time and eight part-time workers and has a turnover of approximately E500,000. My Own produces baked goods mainly for the Christmas market, hand-mixing all products. Under the My Own label, four varieties of Christmas

puddings are produced, as well as Christmas cakes and brandy butter.

The bakery also makes gluten-free and diabetic versions and catering sizes. My Own bakery services the multiple and convenience grocery market as well as deli and health food shops, catering outlets and hamper companies. The firm has won a number of accolades for its products, including five Great Taste awards.