JUNE

Supermarket Somerfield said it was reviewing its bakery as part of a focus on fresh food at its 800 stores. The supermarket was looking at availability throughout the day, range, training and merchandising in the review.

Marks and Spencer cut prices by up to 15% across its bought-in bakery range, as part of a campaign to lower prices in its stores. Bread, morning goods and confectionery were all reduced. Packaging was also marked with “new lower price” logos.

Marks and Spencer announced plans to remove hydrogenated vegetable oils from all its foods on health grounds. The first reformulated products were due on shelf in September.

Northern Ireland’s plant bakers welcomed a commitment from Asda to boost the amount of lines its sourced locally, following its purchase of 12 former Safeway stores in Northern Ireland from new owner Morrisons.

Hertfordshire bakery chain GJ Pearce called in the administrators after rapid expansion of the wholesale side of its business backfired. The 19-shop fourth-generation family business lost a lucrative contract and was forced to scale back production, it said. Nicholas Pearce, the son of the owners, bought four of the shops.

Waitrose relaunched its own-brand cake range with 52 new products, including flapjacks and whole cakes. Central buyer Teresa Lindley said the retailer was picking up on trends such as mini-cakes and cupcakes. The new range was sourced form Memory Lane, Kate’s Cakes and Queen of Hearts.

RHM’s owner Doughty Hanson finally announced plans to float the company on the stock exchange in July, following months of rumours. RHM chief executive Ian MacMahon told British Baker the new listed RHM would play its part in consolidating the food industry, adding strong UK bakery, milling and cake businesses to its portfolio.

Real Good Food revealed it was the mystery buyer in talks to buy ingredients and sugar supplier Napier Brown in a reverse takeover.

Warburtons launched a loaf with added prebiotic, in what it claimed was a first for the UK baking industry. The Healthy Inside wholemeal 400g loaf contained natural prebiotic

inulin. Three slices was said to provide a third of the daily 5g of prebiotic needed to boost digestive health.

Greggs announced a nationwide push on recycling, in a bid to cut landfill costs. A recycling programme was to be introduced at 11 Greggs divisions over the next three years, following trials at its Treforest division in Wales. Measures to be introduced included organic waste recycling machines, which cut the volumes of waste sent to landfill. The trial was set to save the Treforest division £35,000 a year in landfill costs.

Rank Hovis bought Finedon’s Mill, renaming it Rank Hovis Wellingborough. The mill became Rank’s third largest, said sales and marketing director Jon Tanner. It gave the miller flexibility on distribution and production. Rank Hovis said it would now review its manufacturing sites.