Cornish baker Prima Bakeries has announced its first export deal following record sales this year.
The business, which is based at Scorrier near Redruth, reported that its trade since April had broken all monthly records, and it had just recorded the three busiest ever weeks in its 40-year history.
Strong growth in the bakery’s pasty sales, both within and outside Cornwall, has meant that the business recently introduced a new freezer unit, capable of holding 80,000 pasties. This has enabled Prima to take on several new upcountry wholesale customers, as well as its first export sales to a pasty shop in Dublin. Bread, pastries and cakes have also contributed to the recent growth.
“People like to buy locally made food products and Prima fills a big gap by looking after the needs of the many small independent retailers, convenience shops and catering outlets looking for a good product, a fair price and, most importantly, great service,” said managing director Mark Norton.
Prima Bakeries was purchased by the Norton family back in 2010. Since then, Norton has grown the business five-fold and it now employs 82 staff. He is planning a further 20% growth over the next 12 months and expects to create 10 to 15 full-time equivalent new jobs.
It is also working with the next generation of bakers and earlier this year announced that it had partnered with Warrens Bakery and Truro and Penwith College to create a new apprenticeship.
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