Wigan’s Rathbones bakery set to close

SUPERMARKET giant Morrisons is set to close its Rathbones bakery in Wigan, a move which will affect more than 160 staff there.

The listed grocer based in Bradford is planning to expand its Wakefield site by more than 40,000 sq ft, a move which will spark the closure of the site in Newtown.

The grocer said it hoped to reploy staff to other North West food manufacturing operations in Worsley, Salford, Winsford, Cheshire, Deeside, or even the expanded Wakefield site.

Morrison Supermarkets said :”“We are proposing to move production to our Wakefield factory to ensure that the company can continue to support the growth of the business.

“There is no room for expansion at the Wigan site and it therefore makes sense to concentrate growth on the Wakefield factory.”

Morrisons bought the Rathbones bakery in Wigan in 2005 after its parent company was placed into administration.