Contractor appointed for bakery expansion scheme
WEST Yorkshire bakery Just Desserts has appointed contractors to begin work on its expansion plans to support continued business growth.
Huddersfield-based building company, Bray Building Services starts on site this week at the Shipley bakery.
Just Desserts has invested more than £150,000 in the project, which includes consultation to future-proof the bakery and building works, as well as new bakery equipment and a larger freezer to increase storage capacity. The extended bakery, which is due to complete in mid January 2020, will create additional roles for the business in operations and warehousing.
The business, which expanded into Unit 3 in 2015, has added Unit 4 on Station Road and plans to transform the site with new offices and staff facilities, demolishing the existing offices and staffroom to further extend the bakery footprint and freezer space by more than 60%. The works will include a mezzanine floor to house a meeting/board room.
Bray Building Services was established in 2012 by Daniel Bray, initially as a damp proof specialist before growing to become a full service building company.
James O’Dwyer, MD at Just Desserts, said: “We are delighted to appoint the team at Bray Building Services to implement our bakery expansion plans. They have built a great reputation both in their local area and in West Yorkshire and we were impressed with their professionalism, design approach and bespoke service offer.
“We are excited to be able to support our five-year growth strategy to deliver a future-proofed bakery, as well as look after the health and wellbeing of our growing and loyal team with new staff facilities.
“The larger layout and working space of the extended bakery will improve efficiencies, productivity, workflow and capacity to deliver our handcrafted products to a growing customer base.
“We are already working towards developing new vegan and low sugar products to support our strategy to target new and existing markets and the larger bakery will help us realise our ambitions.”
Daniel Bray, MD at Bray Building Services, said: “It’s fantastic to be working alongside Just Desserts on this construction project.
“It shows there is still strength in the manufacturing industry in the local area. Like James the owner, we have come from small beginnings and this is why I believe the relationship will work well. We both understand the importance of working closely together to deliver this project, enabling Just Desserts to expand to meet the future demand for its amazing products.
“The team have been promised a few extra cakes at break time, which we are especially looking forward to.”
Just Desserts was founded on a £40-a-week enterprise allowance more than 30-years-ago by husband and wife team James and Carol O’Dwyer. The business has evolved from James O’Dwyer baking cakes at a unit in Salt’s Mill to turning out a product range of more than 100 different lines.
The company now employs more than 30 staff and operates a fleet of delivery vans serving a growing food service and hospitality customer base across the North of England and the Midlands.
