Roberts + Sons: to modernize manufacturing site

Northwich / UK. (les) A multi million British Pound development at one of the United Kingdom´s last remaining privately owned bakeries is being backed by engineering and project management company Lorien Engineering Solutions in Lichfield, Staffordshire.

Planning permission has been secured for a site modernisation project at Frank Roberts + Sons´ Rudheath bakery in Northwich, Cheshire. The investment is a significant move to keep the family business as a cost efficient bread supplier well into the future.

The construction consists of a 3’000 square metres distribution centre at the bakery, which produces two million loaves, rolls and morning goods each week. The programme is due to be completed in early 2011 with the last six months focusing on process line installation and commissioning within the building.

Lorien has worked with Frank Roberts + Sons Limited for six years offering a multitude of skills to the family business. The firm has been appointed as building and utility designers on this development and will also project manage the integrated design and project management of the new facility. The team is tasked with maintaining the current manufacturing ability and customer service levels while the developments take place.

The Frank Roberts + Sons bakery is an iconic local landmark in Cheshire and has been a leading employer in the county since 1887. The bakery supplies the major multiples as well as owning its own fleet of delivery vehicles, which distribute stock direct to local shops up and down the country.

Mike Braddock, Managing Director of Frank Roberts + Sons: «These ambitious plans will help us to create a more modern and efficient manufacturing site. The expansion will also allow us to develop the brand and add more products to our ranges securing our long term future as a leading bakery in the UK. Our confidence in Lorien´s expertise in project management and engineering design meant that they were the obvious partner of choice for this programme».

Phil Colquhoun, Project Manager at Lorien Engineering Solutions who led the redevelopment: «There are very few privately owned family bakeries left in the UK so we are delighted to be able to support Frank Roberts + Sons in the next phase of its development. Lorien´s expertise will ensure that the project will be completed without compromising the manufacturing output of the bakery and continuing production at full capacity».