Bakery profits hold steady at £5.7m

Family-owned Cheshire bakery Frank Roberts & Sons held its 2016 profits steady at £5.7m despite “difficult market conditions”.

Accounts for the Northwich-headquartered firm for the year to August showed identical profit to the prior year and sales revenue also almost identical at £93.7m compared to £93.6m in 2015.

In his strategic report director Robert Higginson said: “The principal risks to the business continue to be the underlying economic climate, commodity inflation, the threat of competition and pressure on margins from both a supplier and consumer perspective.

“The current economic situation continues to create economic uncertainty and financial pressures for UK consumers.”

In a brief statement, he said: “We will continue to invest in our brands, our products, our people and new plant technology to drive growth in the coming years.”

Over the year Franks Roberts’ headcount grew from 899 to 921 staff.