A POPULAR UK bread maker is said to be preparing to enter administration.
The brand, which is stocked in Asda, Tesco, and Morrisons, has been in operation for 138 years.
Roberts Bakery is preparing to appoint administrators in an effort to save jobs[/caption]
Now, Roberts Bakery is preparing to appoint administrators after recent struggles.
The group, which is owned by parent company Frank Roberts & Sons Ltd, filed a notice of intention (NOI) to appoint an administrator.
This filing is said to have been made with the courts on Monday, October 6.
While the move gives the business breathing space from creditors, up to 400 jobs are in the balance.
Roberts, which makes over two million loaves of bread a week, has been working with advisors at “big four” accountancy firm PwC to explore solutions to save the business.
Official comment
A spokeswoman for Roberts told The Sun discussions were “well advanced” with third parties and the group was “optimistic” about a positive outcome that would preserve the whole company.
Roberts Bakery confirmed the company was actively engaged with potential partners and funded an attempt to secure the future of the business.
The company told The Sun the NOI would provide time for its management team and “experienced third parties” to secure the best possible outcome for the bakery.
“The priority is to safeguard jobs, preserve its brands, and place the business on a strong, more stable footing,” the statement said.
It went on to detail how the company has faced “an exceptionally difficult period” in recent years.
The statement cited the “devastating fire” at at its Northwich factory, which wiped out almost two-thirds of its production capacity as one of the recent challenges.
The “resulting fall in market share” was another major blow to the company.
It also referenced the “unprecedented inflation since the invasion of Ukraine” along with rising energy and ingredient costs, and “intense competitor activity” as further obstacles.
“Despite the huge efforts of everyone involved, these factors have made recovery extremely challenging,” the statement continued.
A spokeswoman for Roberts added: “Discussions are well advanced with third parties, and we are optimistic about a positive solution in the coming days that will preserve the whole company as a going concern.
What does going into administration mean?
WHEN a company enters into administration, all control is passed to an appointed administrator.
The administrator has to leverage the company’s assets and business to repay creditors any outstanding debts.
Once a company enters administration, a “moratorium” is put in place which means no legal action can be taken against it.
Administrators write to your creditors and Companies House to say they’ve been appointed.
They try to stop the company from being liquidated (closing down), and if it can’t it pays as much of a company’s debts from its remaining assets.
The administrator has eight weeks to write a statement explaining what they plan to do to move the business forward.
This must be sent to creditors, employees and Companies House and invite them to approve or amend the plans at a meeting.
A Notice of Intention is used to inform concerning parties that a company intends to enter administration.
It is a physical document which is submitted to court, usually by directors aiming to prevent a company from being liquidated.
Like with a standard administration process, a Notice of Intention stops creditors from taking out any legal action over a company while they try and rectify the business.
“We are keeping all stakeholders informed including our employesrs. Day-to-day operations are unaffected, and the company is continuing to trade and fulfil orders as normal.”
Rumoured purchase
Meanwhile, The Grocer reported that Warburtons had been looking at a potential purchase of the Roberts speciality breads factory though it is unclear if any deals have been made.
In July, Roberts restructured its main factory in Cheshire as it fought for its survival, entering consultation with 250 of its staff.
And last month, the group decided to close its Derbyshire plant as restructuring efforts continued, with another 38 jobs at risk of redundancy.
Bread volumes have struggled to recover since the Northwich fire as customers secured alternative supply contracts.
The same pressures of overcapacity in the market have recently seen competitors Hovis and Kingsmill agree to a merger.
History of Roberts
Roberts, which can trace its history back to 1887, currently operates from three sites in Northwich, Ilkeston, and Winsford, making biscuits at the latter factory.
The group employed more than 750 staff before its troubles started.
In 2024, a shift in buying habits from standard loaves to specialty items such as crumpets, flatbreads, and brioche saw a sales slump for the company.
Despite this, category leader Warburtons has defied the wider slump to capture more of the market.
Roberts’ slowdown continued into 2025, as revealed by the newest category report, with values down 28%.
More on business
Last month, Polish owner Pepco Group sold Poundland to US investment firm Gordon Brothers for £1 after a downturn in trading.
The new owners are now asking the court for permission to close 68 stores and negotiate lower rents on others, with up to 82 more stores potentially shutting in the future.
Both Hobbycraft and The Original Factory Shop are also shutting branches as part of restructuring efforts.
