FDBusiness.com

Warburtons, the UK’s largest bakery brand, has completed the purchase of Giles Foods, a leading speciality bread and pastry manufacturer. The investment, for an undisclosed sum, supports the strategy of diversification which is at the heart of Warburtons’ growth plan.

With an annual turnover of £26 million, Giles Foods, which is also a family run business, produces unbranded baked products including garlic breads, dough balls, French and Italian breads, Danish pastries, tarts and buns which are sold to retailers, restaurants, pub chains and catering companies.

The company produces 137 product lines and was established in 1977. It now employs 300 people across two sites in Milton Keynes and Warminster. Warburtons will run Giles Foods as a separate business, with the current management team remaining in place.

Jonathan Warburton, chairman and chief executive of Warburtons, comments: “This agreement with Giles Foods underlines our continued commitment to growth, diversification and ultimately, creating quality products which we know people love. As well as being a family-run business, Giles Foods Limited has a strong track record in innovation and anticipating the tastes and demands of consumers. Alongside Warburtons, this will help us continue to work towards consolidating our position as one of the world’s best family food businesses.”

David Rixon, managing director of Giles Foods, adds: “There was an enormous amount of interest from a broad range of potential partners, but Warburtons, its heritage and values ultimately made the decision very straightforward. We are confident that becoming part of the Warburtons business will allow what Giles Foods Limited has done for 35 years to evolve and grow.”

Established in a grocery shop in Bolton in 1876 by Thomas and Ellen Warburton, Warburtons is now the UK’s leading independent baker. Today the business is actively run by the fifth generation of the Warburton family – Brett, Jonathan and Ross Warburton.