Compacta 3 Deck Oven  – Chandley Ovens

Source: Chandley Ovens

The directors of oven manufacturer and supplier Tom Chandley Ltd have announced the company’s transition into a fully employee-owned business.

The transfer of ownership will be completed on 1 June 2022 when the newly formed company will begin trading as Chandley Ovens. The directors said this will give all the company’s 39 employees a chance to “share in the success of this innovative, successful company that has been at the centre of the UK baking industry for over 70 years”.

As well as the transition to an employee-owned company, the business is moving to a new factory and base in Hyde, Cheshire – four miles away from its previous site in Denton, Greater Manchester – in a bid to streamline manufacturing. A series of product innovations centred around energy efficiency and control are planned for the autumn along with new ways of paying for customers, the company said.

The planned changes are accompanied by other modernisation measures including a brand refresh and a newly launched website.

Current managing director Martin Dyson will stay on as a director of the newly formed Chandley Employee Ownership Trust in a move to provide “continuity of strategy”.

“Tom and Sadie Chandley established this business in 1944 with the principles of great customer service, product excellence and looking after their employees, my family and the other directors of the business have been privileged to develop this legacy and now to pass it on to the employees to enjoy the benefits of their own endeavours,” said Dyson.

On behalf of the new board of Chandley Ovens, Emma Pattison added: “The gifting of the company from the current shareholders to all the employees is an extraordinary act of generosity and reflects the traditions of the company, we are so excited for the next chapter in the Chandley story.”