Wrexham-based Jones Village Bakery has restarted production at a new £27m facility, seven years after fire destroyed its main bakery.
The 2019 blaze caused major disruption for the business. However, the bakery has rebuilt its operations over the years and reports that its turnover has now tripled.
Its workforce has expanded from around 500 employees to more than 1,200. The latest investment has generated a further 75 jobs across the wider business, including 30 positions at the new site.
The “state-of-the-art” factory is located on Wrexham Industrial Estate. Jones Village Bakery says the facility ranks among “the most modern in Europe”, reflecting the company’s investment in food processing technology and broader food manufacturing trends.
Nigel Williams, lead member for economy, business and tourism at Wrexham County Borough Council, was among the first visitors to tour the facility.
The fire began on 19 August 2019 and required three fire crews, eight engines and an aerial ladder platform before emergency services brought it under control. The scale of the response highlighted the severity of the incident.
Founded in 1934, Jones Village Bakery makes a variety of baked products, including bread and pies, and supplies customers throughout Wales and neighbouring areas of England. Its expansion also supports local suppliers, contractors and wider food distribution trends.
Williams said: “The phoenix rising from the ashes is a bit of a cliché but that’s what it is. From where they were in 2019, they have more than doubled the number of staff and trebled their turnover. Lesser companies would have folded.”
He added: “They pledged at the time that there would be no redundancies and that loyalty has been repaid. It is quite inspiring to hear what they have achieved. There is still a family feel to the company even though there are 1,200 working here now.”
Williams continued: “The technology in the new bakery they have has blown my mind. It’s a masterpiece of engineering and design. This must be the most modern bakery in Europe. The company is hugely important to the economy of Wrexham because it’s not just about the people who work here, it’s also about their supply chain and the contractors they use.”
The project illustrates how food and drink industry innovation can strengthen regional employment and supply networks. It also reflects the priorities shaping food and beverage industry trends, including efficient production, resilient supply chains, food and drink sustainability, evolving food and drink regulations, modern food and drink packaging, food and drink marketing, and changing food and drink consumer trends.
