Northern Irish bakery Pattons has invested £375,000 in new premises, which will enable it to meet increased demand from retail customers, such as the Henderson Group and Musgrave Retail Partners.

The company, which produces bread, savouries and cakes, says the modern, 4,700sq ft unit, at Kiltonga Industrial Estate in Newtownards, will provide it with much-needed additional capacity. "Before moving into these new premises, we regularly had to turn business away," said Warren Patton, MD of Pattons Bakery. "By increasing our storage and despatch capa-city, we are now perfectly placed to deliver higher volumes and meet the demand from our bakery and retail customers to serve a wider range of stores. Our focus on quality has been key to continued business growth."

Bank of Ireland has provided £300,000 of funding for the move. The bank’s relationship manager Anthony McVeigh said: "A longstanding client, Pattons Bakery is a real success story with a strong business plan, and we are delighted to be providing funding for the company through this key milestone in its growth."