SEPTEMBER

Pret A Manger revealed that its new SlimPRET half sandwiches accounted for 12% of its overall sandwich turnover, after a roll out to all stores. Pret started trials of the product last year.

Sandwich chain O’Briens completed a £600,000 upgrade of its 145 outlets.

Greencore Pizza consulted unions over plans to restructure its business, closing its Deeside bakery where it makes pizza crusts.

Bakery Services revealed it had spent a second year in the red as it posted its results for the year to March 31, reporting pre-tax losses of £55,854.

Rank Hovis announced it was raising its flour price by between £10 and £12 a tonne, effective from September 25. It said it was responding to rising overheads.

Harry Kear said he had spent £500,000 on refurbishing the three Rathbone Kear bakeries in Wigan, Wakefield and Middlesbrough. He said he planned to develop the

Rathbones brand on bread.

UK supermarkets are among the world’s cheapest, figures from the Economist Intelligence Unit, suggested. A loaf of bread costs 59p in a supermarket in London, compared to £3.14 in a supermarket in Tokyo, Japan – the most expensive city in the world. London was the 19th cheapest city for supermarket bread, out of 127 cities surveyed around the world.

DSM Bakery Ingredients was renamed GB Ingredients following its change of ownership.

Warburtons overtook Kingsmill as the UK’s number two bread brand on sales, with Hovis remaining in the top spot, according to data from TNS. Warburtons notched up £200m-£205m sales, around £5m more than the Kingsmill brand over the year to June 19. But if Allied Bakeries’ £10- £15m Allinsons brand is included, Allied draws ahead of Warburtons. Hovis sales were worth £245-£250m.

Cafe chain Druckers said it planned to double its estate by 2009, rolling out a new “softer” colour scheme.

Peter Knowles, chairman of Peters Cathedral Bakers, was named Baker of the Year at the Baking Industry Awards. Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year went to La Fornaia.

The British Confectioners’ Association celebrated its 100th anniversary.

RHM unveiled a new advertising campaign for Hovis Best of Both, featuring talking ducks.

The Food Standards Agency warned consumers to be vigilant after a spate of incidents where bread produced at Allied Bakeries’ Orpington site was deliberately contaminated. Allied Bakeries received five complaints of fragments of glass or sewing needles in Kingsmill sliced bread.

Scottish company Aulds suffered a major fire at its frozen desserts factory in Inchinnan.

Caffé Nero claimed to be the UK’s fastest growing coffee chain as it posted its preliminary results for the year to May 31. It said its market share grew 1% to 12% over the year. Operating profit grew 155% to £6m, with sales up 39% to £70.1m.

RHM Bread bakeries discontinued its Lower Salt loaves, with 50% less salt, due to lower-than-expected sales.

Allied Bakeries appointed Brian Robinson as CEO, effective from November. CEO Des Pullen was promoted to group human resources director for parent Associated British Foods.

Canterbury Foods started a strategic review of its business after a £11.5m half-year loss. Chief executive Paul Ainsworth said he aims to reduce debt and focus on pastry and food ingredients.

Krispy Kreme MD Don Henshall said it was on track to break even in the UK – a year ahead of its three-year target.