The facility, which began limited production last autumn, should create more jobs as the firm grew in size and new products were introduced, Brian Homewood, the firm’s md, told FoodManufacture.co.uk.
The £2M investment was used to install new production machinery at the site – a former food factory, which BakeAway converted to its needs. The new equipment included: mixers, conveyors and packaging equipment.
Homewood said the firm planned to take advantage of a gap in the chilled dough market.
Brand leader
Although Jus-Rol Pastry is the brand leader in chilled dough, there is no own-label producer, said Homewood. BakeAway recently secured a contract to supply to Sainsbury’s and early sales are ahead of forecasts, he added. The firm hoped to double last year’s turnover of £4.5M this year driven by increasing demand.
The home-baking sector has grown 13% in the past 12 months, according to data provided to the firm by TNS Global Market Research. Pastry consumption by users has also grown 25% in the past 18 months,
“The emphasis is to develop the home-baking market in the chilled cabinet, both for cookie dough and others such as ready-to-roll pastries,” said Homewood. “We are looking to develop our range of products further, with a number of new launches later this year.” Homewood declined to give more detail about new products.
BakeAway’s current range included: chocolate chip cookie dough, gingerbread dough, short-crust pastry, puff pastry and butter puff pastry in blocks for home-baking.
It also makes puff pastry, butter pastry, short-crust pastry, dessert pastry and a ‘light’ short crust pastry in ‘ready roll’ format.
Foodservice outlets
BakeAway’s range for foodservice outlets comprises 5kg blocks of short-crust pastry, puff pastry and butter puff pastry.
Meanwhile, councillor Tom Beattie, leader of Corby Borough Council, welcomed the new jobs created by the firm’s investment, “In the current climate we are very pleased to welcome new jobs and investment in to the Borough,” he told FoodManufacture.co.uk.
“Inviting more companies into the Borough and creating more jobs for local people is a priority of ours and we wish BakeAway a successful future here in Corby.”