FDBusiness.com

Rising raw materials costs and a decline in the UK bakery market have impacted on the financial performance of Warburtons. Pre-tax profits at the UK’s largest independent baker fell by more than a third from £26 million to £16.3 million for the year ended September 24, 2011 as turnover edged ahead from £492 million to £495 million.

According to Warburtons, trading conditions worsened during the year and the bakery market declined in both value and volume. The company’s main focus remains on growing share of the bakery business in Great Britain, which it realises can only be achieved by developing new product ranges alongside its current market leading lines.

Warburtons introduced a number of new products during its last financial year, including wraps and flatbreads, and also started exporting to Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland for the first time. The Bolton-based baker, which produces more than two million loaves, rolls and crumpets every day, is currently considering export sales opportunities in France and Spain.