Hughes Bakers sets sights on big supermarkets with £600k funding

Baked goods chain Hughes Bakers is creating jobs with the help of a six-figure Northern Powerhouse loan.

The company, based in Shipley, will take on 12 new staff after securing £600k funding through NPIF – FW Capital Debt Finance, part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (NPIF).

Founded more than 90 years ago, Hughes Bakers is today owned and run by food industry specialists Ian Connell, Colin Davies and John Cummings.

The NPIF backing will enable the business to increase capacity, simplify its product range and work towards accreditation from the British Retail Consortium, which is a prerequisite for large suppliers of the UK’s big supermarkets.

Hughes Bakers finance director Colin Davies said: “Hughes is an established bakery in Yorkshire working with ASDA Walmart and Co-op as well as a large number of smaller, independent retailers.

“Our plans now involve increasing our capacity for commercial volumes so we can service the larger retailers and we are already talking to the big supermarket chains about achieving listings.”

He added: “We also intend to innovate within our product development so we can be more artisan in what we do.”

FW Capital senior investment executive Keith Charlton commented: “Hughes Bakers has a solid reputation and an experienced and committed management team who have a clear vision for the company’s expansion.

“The directors have identified clear growth opportunities and are already putting in place the elements needed to make these happen. This is an excellent example of how NPIF investment can help ambitious businesses move forward and scale.”

The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is run by the British Business Bank at its Sheffield HQ.

Bank director Grant Peggie said of the deal: “The Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund is pleased to support a great Yorkshire-based business in Hughes Bakers.

“This new line of funding will help the business reach new heights, as it looks to grow its workforce and secure new contracts with more of the UK’s leading retailers.”

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