Latest News

Frank Roberts & Sons acquires Aldreds

Posted: 1st July 2010

Frank Roberts and Sons Ltd has acquired Derbyshire-based bakery Aldreds the Bakers Ltd, in a deal that will retain all 62 staff at Aldreds.

Aldreds, which was established in 1897 and manufactures rolls, bakery and confectionery products, will become a division of Frank Roberts & Sons and operate as normal with the current management team remaining in place.

Mike Braddock, managing director of Frank Roberts and Sons said: "This is a very positive move for both companies. Roberts is a successful business and we are very excited to have the opportunity to develop it further through our alliance with Aldreds, which is well known and respected in the industry. With a long heritage, plus a good reputation for customer service and product quality, Aldreds shares many similarities with our business. We are delighted to not only invest in Aldreds future, but also to provide job security for its loyal team of staff."

Win a year's supply of Roberts bread at the Cheshire County Show

Posted: 4th June 2010

We're offering a slice of good fortune for two lucky Cheshire County Show visitors as Roberts Bakery marks five years as a principle sponsor of the event.

Everyone who buys a loaf from the Roberts Bakery stand at the show on June 22-23 will have the opportunity to enter the competition and one winner will be chosen each day to receive two free loaves every week for a year - which is a total of 104 loaves over a year!

Once again the Cheshire County Show features the ever popular Roberts Bakery Food Hall and Food Live Theatre, were hundreds of food producers from across the country will display a range of tasty treats for the public to enjoy.

In the Food Live Theatre some of Cheshire's top food experts will give live cookery demonstrations on how to produce a range of mouth-watering delights - including a session with Jason Palin, from The Cheshire Cookery School, who will be creating an array of fantastic dishes all using Roberts Bakery products.

Marketing manager Carolyn Chadwick explained: "People from all over the country come to the Cheshire County Show to sample the fantastic local produce Cheshire has to offer. To celebrate this and our five years as a principle sponsor of the event we wanted to give two lucky food lovers the chance to win a year's supply of our tasty and locally produced bread."

Executive director of the Cheshire Show Nigel Evans said: "The food industry in Cheshire is extremely successful and a large part of its success is down to locally based food producers such as Roberts Bakery and the county's farming community.

"The Roberts Bakery Food Hall and Food Live Theatre is a celebration of this success and we are delighted that our partnership with Roberts Bakery has gone from strength to strength over the last five years."

Advanced tickets are available by calling 0845 1249 822 or for more information visit www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk.

Another award win takes the biscuit

Posted: 7th May 2010

Hot on the heels of the recent A* rated audit from the BRC, The Pastry Case has won another award, this time receiving the coveted Sainsbury's Own Brand Supplier Award for Best Technical Service 2010.

The win was announced by Judith Batchelar, Brand Director and Tina Jeary, Head of Product Development and Technology at Sainsburys, during their Technical & Development Conference for the Fresh / Frozen Category. Competition was fierce with dairy, bakery, frozen, convenience meals, produce and food service suppliers all competing for the award.

The winning attributes identified by the Sainsburys team included:

• An outstanding BRC A* audit result
• Excellent product launches
• Submissions and attendance of all quality sampling panels
• Fast response time to actions and information requests

The award caps an amazing year for The Pastry Case team and is a remarkable note of recognition for their dedication to quality and new product development.

Frank Roberts & Sons make the grade with a double A* from the BRC

Posted: 28th April 2010

Frank Roberts and Sons has spearheaded the industry by becoming one of the first manufacturers to achieve not one, but two, of the toughest awards for food safety and quality.

The company has scored an historic double as its two trading divisions, Roberts Bakery and The Pastry Case have both been awarded the prestigious A* grade assessment in the BRC (British Retail Consortium) Global Standard for Food Safety, Issue 5.

Achievement of an A* grade, represents an ‘unannounced’ visit by the auditor for the BRC and is the highest award possible for food safety and quality. The assessment covers a wide range of aspects including the food safety plan, site standards, product and process control, personnel and commitment to continuous improvement.

Stuart Borthwick, Director of Operations at Frank Roberts and Sons, said: "This is a fantastic achievement as we are one of the first manufacturers to secure this unannounced status and it shows our commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards every day.

"We have already started to receive positive feedback from our customer base which shows the high regard they hold for the BRC Standards and our A* status."

Providing complete reassurance for retailers, the BRC Standards are an internationally renowned assessment of technical standards developed to evaluate manufacturers of food products against strict criteria for food safety and quality.

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival uses its loaf

Posted: 15th September 2009

Roberts Bakery are offering one lucky visitor to the Nantwich Food and Drink Festival 2009, the opportunity to win a year's supply of bread (see full terms and conditions of entry). To celebrate their proud association with the festival, Roberts will be giving hungry visitors the opportunity to sample their Seeded Farmhouse bread and some delicious, hot buttered Mega-Thick Toastie.

This is the 9th year of the food and drink festival, which takes place in and around the historic market town of Nantwich from Friday 25 - Sunday 27 September 2009, and the fourth year that Roberts have been headline sponsors.

Phil Riding, Nantwich Food and Drink Festival Manager comments:
"Roberts Bakery is a historic Cheshire brand, which makes this a perfect partnership. The aim of the festival is to showcase some of the best regional produce and so it seems fitting that one of the best known and loved local food producers should come on board as headline sponsor."

Nantwich Food and Drink Festival runs from Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September 2009 in and around the town of Nantwich, Cheshire. Roberts Bakery will be exhibiting in the Gourmet Food Marquee on Mill Island.

Avoid the queues and buy your tickets in advance online at www.nantwichfoodfestival.co.uk or from the Nantwich Tourist Information Centre. Tickets start from just £5 for the Friday and £6 per day for the Saturday or Sunday. Accompanied under 16s can get in for free. Call the festival hotline on 01270 537359.

Cheshire County Show 2009

Posted: 12th June 2009

For the fourth year running Roberts are proud to be principal sponsors of the Food Hall and Food Live Theatre at the Cheshire County Show. This year's show, on the 23rd and 24th June, promises to be bigger and better than ever before, with more on offer to give visitors even more value for money. Visit www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk for further information.

The 'Ultimate Cheshire Sandwich'

To celebrate our renewed sponsorship of this great Cheshire event we got together with local chef Jason Palin and created the 'Ultimate Cheshire Sandwich'. Using our new Seeded Farmhouse and a range of other fantastic locally sourced ingredients we created a Cheshire twist on a favourite - the Cheshire cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato relish sandwich. Click here to find out how to make your own or better still visit us in the Food Hall at the show for more information and to try the Seeded Farmhouse bread.

Great success for Bakery Band

Posted: 20th March 2008

The Roberts Bakery Brass Band recently competed at the North West Regional Championships in Blackpool and triumphed to secure themselves a place in the national finals which are to be held in September in Harrogate.
The band played incredibly well finishing two points ahead of the competition beating Blackburn and Darwin. The test piece of music played by all the bands was James Cook Circumnavigator by Gilbert Vinter. A Special mention needs to go to the Band’s musical director Colin Cranson, whose brilliant leadership won him the trophy for the best conductor.

www.robertsbakeryband.co.uk

The Cheshire Show

Posted: 7th March 2008

2008 will be the third year that Roberts Bakery sponsors the Food Hall and Food Live Theatre at the Cheshire Show and we are delighted to once again be a part of the event.

Developing and growing year on year, the show attracts visitors from all over the UK. Taking place this year on Tuesday the 17th and Wednesday the 18th of June this years show promises to be better than ever.

The Food Live Theatre boasts celebrity TV Chef Kevin Woodward of Ready Steady Cook fame along with a whole host of entertainment. The Food Hall is full of the most mouth watering treats from frozen fruit yoghurt, to fresh plump sausages and of course quality Roberts bread!

The show is the largest equestrian event in the North West; displays take place all day ranging from the Mitsubishi light horse shows to the mighty Shire horses. The show also boasts a craft village, displays by the local hunt, a huge variety of animals and music from many of the local schools.

The show is a great day out for all the family. Building a real connection to the countryside.

www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk

Vale Royal Business Awards

Posted: 15th February 2008

Roberts Bakery is proud to be involved in the Vale Royal Business Awards and in 2008 will once again be sponsoring the Family Business Award. As a leading regional bread supplier established for well over 100 years, Roberts Bakery produces over two million of the finest breads and rolls each week and is a shining example of what a small newly established family business can aspire to be. The awards are now in their 5th year and provide a benchmark for excellence in the local area. There are seven award categories each with its own criteria. For more information and application forms please visit

valeroyalbusinessawards.co.uk