Manchester-based Martins Foods has purchased craft bakery Mellors out of administration, saving 50 jobs. Mellors Ltd went into administration on 22 April, and was bought by Martins the next day.

Now trading as Martins Foods Southport, Mellors’ 25,000sq ft site in Slaidburn Crescent, Southport, specialises in "sticky buns", including cinammon swirls, Chelsea buns, iced fingers and Eccles cakes, which it supplies to supermarkets and foodservice customers. It will be run by Martins Foods’ management team: MD Neil Martin, financial director Kirsty Harvey and commercial manager Joanne Borg.

"Lots of work needs to be done to turn the company around. However, I’ve been very impressed by the great attitude shown by the Southport team to make this happen," said Martin.

Commenting on the reason behind the purchase, Martin said Mellors’ product range would be a good fit with the existing range of coffee shop cakes and desserts made at Martins Foods’ Radcliffe site in Man-chester, and its specialist Eccles cake bakery.

The firm also announced that Derek Kemp is to join Martins Foods as technical sales director in the coming weeks, having previously worked for CSM/Bakemark and Hampsons.