Wed, 08 Oct 2025 | ADMINISTRATION
A £76 million-turnover bakery business that can trace its roots back to 1887 has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators. Roberts Bakery says it is now actively engaging with potential partners and funders regarding the future of the business.
The Northwich-based company has faced significant challenges over recent years, including a major fire in 2023. In summer 2025, the firm announced that it would undertake "significant reorganisation of its operations" in response and, last month, confirmed plans to close its manufacturing site in Ilkestone, Derbyshire.
In addition to the fire, the bakery has also been hit by wider challenges, ranging from the ongoing impact of COVID-19, the economic fallout of the war in Ukraine, rising costs for energy and ingredients and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on customer budgets.
In the year to August 31 2024, Frank Roberts & Sons Limited, trading as Roberts Bakery, reported turnover of close to £76.1 million. However, this was down from around £96 million the previous year, while operating losses widened from approximately £12.7 million to over £35.4 million.
The company has now filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators as it seeks to provide time for its management team and outside parties to secure the best possible outcome for the business.
A spokesperson said in a statement that discussions with third parties were “well advanced” and that the company was “optimistic about a positive solution in the coming days that will preserve the whole company as a going concern.”.
The spokesperson continued: "We are keeping all stakeholders informed including our employees. Day-to-day operations are unaffected, and the company is continuing to trade and fulfil orders as normal."
In its most recent accounts, the company’s fixed assets were valued at £53.2 million and current assets at around £25.5 million, while net assets stood at approximately £30.4 million.
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