Roberts Bakery, a family-run business based in Northwich, Cheshire, has announced plans to cut up to 250 jobs as part of a major restructuring. The bakery, which supplies bread products to supermarkets including Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury's, cited a series of severe challenges including the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine.
The company, which employs over 750 staff across its sites, said the job losses will affect its Northwich plant. A formal consultation period is set to begin, with affected employees offered support including voluntary redundancy where possible. The changes will not impact the bakery's other locations in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and Winsford.
In a statement, a spokesperson described the decision as “heart-breaking” and the hardest in the bakery's 138-year history. They noted that a fire at the Rudheath factory in 2023 had also significantly disrupted operations, halting a large part of the business for an extended period.
The bakery said the restructuring is necessary to create a “solid, viable base” and ensure the company can continue to operate and serve the community for years to come. “This isn't the end; it is a necessary, heart-breaking shift,” the statement added.
