More than 200 staff have been made redundant at the Peter Hunt bakery, after it ceased trading on 7 July.

Administrator BDO Stoy Hayward (BDO) has been unable to find a buyer for the Bolton-based business, since parent company Lyndale Group went into administration in June. BDO had initially hoped to sell the pie and pasty manufacturer as a going concern. Business restructuring partner Dermot Power said: "We have worked hard to find a buyer for the Peter Hunt business in the face of challenging market conditions and it is regrettable that we have been unable to do so."

Power said that TUPE liabilities - laws designed to protect workers if a business changes ownership - had "proved to be an insurmountable barrier to a going-concern sale".

John Higgins, full-time officer at the Baker’s Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU), confirmed the employees had been officially informed of their redundancy on the morning of 7 July, and were given advice that day to fill in ’development forms’.

He explained that, although the workers had been expecting this for some weeks, it had come as very unwelcome news and feelings were raw. "We’re asking for an investigation into how the company handled the situation," said Higgins.

Former Lyndale-owned Hampson’s bakery and 158 Hampson and Sayers stores were rescued from adminis- tration last month, when Sayers chairman Sandy Birnie and chief executive Michael Quinlan formed new company Sayers the Bakers.

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=== In Short ===

== Brace’s redundancies ==

Brace’s bakery will be making some of its staff redundant as it restructures its business. The redundancies could hit staff across both of its plants in Crumlin, Newport in south Wales. A spokeswoman said: "The slowing economy and increasing manufacturing costs, such as spiralling fuel and wheat prices, have been well-publicised. There has been a huge impact on business and we are no exception."

== Champions’ league ==

Ludlow craft baker Price’s has made it through to the finals of the Made in Britain Food Champion of the Year competition, with its new Perry and Pear Loaf. The awards, formerly known as the Small Producers Awards, are run by Waitrose and Country Life magazine.

== Oasis promo ==

Coca-Cola has launched an new advertising campaign for its adult juice brand Oasis. The campaign - ’Run Cactus Kid, Run’ - aims to build on the brand’s positioning for people who don’t like water. It will encompass outdoor, web and TV advertising and is aimed at driving brand recognition with its 20-something male and female target customer base.

== Pupil bakers ==

Pupils at Freeman College in Sheffield will have the chance to learn about baking, thanks to a £20,000 donation by The Hilton in the Community Foundation. It will enable the college, which educates young people with learning difficulties, to build an on-site bakery for its students, including new kitchen equipment and ovens.

== Snacktime for Gibson ==

Gibson Foods is to supply Food Service Centre’s own-brand Snacktime range, after winning a £3m annual contract, to be its sole supplier.

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