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Frank Roberts & Sons has been acquired by Boparan Private Office, securing the future of the 138-year-old Northwich bakery and preserving 433 jobs.
The investment, announced on 15 October, establishes Roberts Bakery 1887 as the successor company, following the administration process reported by FoodBev Media last week. The deal protects both the workforce and the heritage brand that has been a fixture in British baking since 1887.
Roberts Bakery 1887 joins Boparan Private Office's portfolio of food production and consumer brand businesses. The investment group, founded by entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan, brings established bakery sector experience to support the Northwich operation.
The existing management team remains in place and will be supplemented with additional expertise as part of the transition. Production at the site continues under the Roberts Bakery brand.
The Roberts family, whilst stepping away from ownership after four generations, expressed relief at the outcome. "The Roberts family are profoundly relieved that the business has been saved by a consortium of the management team backed by BPO and that there will be a recovery plan to ensure it can prosper and thrive and that so many jobs will be saved," the family stated.
Boparan Private Office confirmed its commitment to the long-term development of the bakery. The company operates a diverse portfolio spanning food production, hospitality and consumer brands, with a focus on supporting UK-based manufacturing businesses.
Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed. The new company was initially registered as NGGL Ltd and is being renamed Roberts Bakery 1887 Ltd.