Maple Leaf Bakery UK has bought the French Croissant Company (FCC) and Avance (UK) as it expands its operations.

The deal, which completed on Monday, gives it a total of six sites in the UK and will allow it to develop its UK bakery business, deputy MD Guy Hall told British Baker.

FCC is the largest UK croissant producer and its sister company Avance (UK) is a flavoured bread and long-life bread products supplier.

The two companies have combined sales of around £40m and employ around 370 people at bakeries in Park Royal, London and Maidstone, Kent. Both were part of the Primebake group, owned by John Lister.

Hall commented: "These businesses were a good strategic fit, with good added-value products and fit with our ambitions for expansion in the UK."

Current management teams will be retained at the new sites, he said, and no relocations or job losses are planned.

Hall said Maple Leaf will continue to look for opportunities to expand in the UK.

The company, part of Canadian giant Maple Leaf Foods, is currently best known for producing New York Bagel Company-branded bagels in the UK.

Hall commented: "We are always looking, you never know when a good opportunity comes up."

Maple Leaf also acquired the former Harvestime bakery in Walsall this March. It was pleased with its progress in the in-store bakery and speciality areas, Hall said.