Boparan Investment Vehicle Rescues Roberts Bakery From Brink

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Roberts Bakery has been saved from going nether by nan backstage finance conveyance of UK-based entrepreneur and billionaire Ranjit Singh Boparan.

It emerged earlier this month that Roberts Bakery, based successful Northwich, Cheshire, had revenge a alleged Notice of Intention (NOI) to name administrators.

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However, Mr Boparan has now stepped successful to rescue family-run Roberts Bakery via his Boparan Private Office (BPO) finance platform, redeeming 433 jobs successful nan process.

The businessman is besides nan proprietor of 2 Sisters Food Group, what is now a predominately poultry processor and awesome private-label supplier to nan UK’s awesome supermarkets pursuing a number of plus disposals.

Mr Boparan and his woman Baljinder are nan sole shareholders successful 2 Sisters via their holding institution Boparan Holdings.

Financial position of nan transaction for Roberts Bakery were not disclosed. The institution will beryllium renamed Roberts Bakery 1887 to bespeak nan founding of nan branded and own-label business.

“The business will support nan existing guidance squad and bring caller talent into nan business to guarantee a sustainable and breathtaking early for this iconic brand,” a connection read.

A BPO spokesperson added: “We are proud to play a portion successful preserving this iconic bakery, its people, and its heritage. Frank Roberts & Sons has been astatine nan bosom of nan organization for complete a century, and we are committed to supporting its semipermanent occurrence arsenic Roberts Bakery 1887 Ltd.”

Roberts Bakery had cited “exceptionally difficult” challenges for its determination to record for administration, including ostentation pressures, rising power and ingredients costs, and title from its peers.

The business was besides deed by a occurrence astatine its Northwich bakery 2 years ago.

With a group turnover of £96m ($128.1m), nan branded portfolio nether nan Roberts sanction includes bread, buns and rolls, crumpets, and biscuits.

It is besides engaged successful foodservice pinch nan likes of sandwiches and toasties. As good arsenic nan Northwich bakery, nan institution operates 2 different factories successful Ilkeston, Derbyshire, and astatine Winsford, which is besides successful Cheshire.

However, successful September Roberts Bakery announced its intention to adjacent nan site successful Ilkeston because it was “no longer aligned pinch nan company’s early plans”.

The connection was accompanied by a remark from nan bakery’s family owners: “The Roberts family are profoundly relieved that nan business has been saved by a consortium of nan guidance squad backed by BPO and that location will beryllium a betterment scheme to guarantee it tin prosper and thrive and that truthful galore jobs will beryllium saved.

“We are of people sad it will nary longer beryllium america who are location to stock successful this caller opportunity.”

Just Food has asked Roberts Bakery for an update connected nan position of nan Ilkeston mill and for confirmation of who will tally nan business station nan BPO deal.

BPO has besides been approached to ascertain what different assets are held by nan finance conveyance and Boparan Holdings.

In 2022, BPO stepped successful to save a bakery works from closure – nan Elkes Biscuits mill located successful Uttoxeter successful nan English Midlands. At nan time, nan finance agency besides housed turkey supplier Bernard Matthews and edifice chains Carluccios, Giraffe and Ed’s Easy Diner.

The aforesaid year, Banham Poultry successful Norfolk successful eastbound England was added to nan BPO portfolio of companies aft clearance from nan UK’s title authority.