Member Article

Morpeth bakery aims for growth in gluten free products

A firm of Morpeth bakers are hoping to capitalise on a gap in the market as they begin to produce a gluten free range for the first time.

Glentons Bakery will use its Morpeth facility to start making gluten free products while it continues to prepare other breads, cakes and pastries in Ashington.

The firm has used the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme to help the overhaul of its operations plan and new ways of working for the company’s 32 employees.

Owner Keith Glenton said: “There is far greater awareness now of food allergies and we were receiving daily enquiries from customers to all four of our shops for gluten-free products. However in order to comply with Food Standards Agency regulations on production we needed to review our ways of working and restructure the business accordingly.

“The Business Northumberland High Growth Programme was recommended to me by other local business owners who have participated and seen the benefits it brings.”

According to regulations set by The Food Standards Agency, a product can only be labelled ‘gluten free’ if it contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten.

The risk of cross-contamination with other flour-based products requires gluten free production to be completely isolated from other baking.

Keith, a former supermarket bakery manager who started his own business in 2006, believes demand for gluten free production is one of the biggest changes the industry has seen in his 37 years in the trade.

He added: “Consumers demand quality and with the rise of the celebrity chef and television programmes such as The Great British Bake Off, demand continues to increase and diversify.

“I want to ensure all of my customers have a wide choice of quality baked produce and that’s why we’ve taken the business in this new direction.”

Oxford Innovation business coach Matt Hindhaugh worked alongside Keith and his team, commenting: “Glentons was already a well-established business with a loyal customer-base but Keith saw this opportunity in the market and he’s pursued it with all of his usual passion and determination.

“The key was to establish an operating plan and organisation structure that would maintain quality standards at both production units in Ashington and Morpeth while ensuring compliance with Food Standards Agency regulations.

“Keith and his team really embraced the coaching process and I’m certain Glentons is well placed for further growth by producing good quality food for all customers.”

The Business Northumberland High Growth Programme offers established and start-up businesses in the county free support in reaching their full growth potential. It is jointly funded by Arch, The Northumberland Development Company, Northumberland County Council and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Oxford Innovation’s methods have proved successful elsewhere in the UK, where the organisation has worked with over 2,500 high growth businesses. And despite the challenging economic circumstances of recent years, Oxford Innovation has helped its clients across the UK access over £100 million of funding, creating or safeguarding more than 2,000 jobs.

Anyone wishing to find out more about the Business Northumberland High Growth Programme and how Oxford Innovation can potentially support their business should call 01670 528403, emailnorthumberland@oxin.co.uk or visit www.businessnorthumberland.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .