A BAKERY in Northwich has been named the best food and drink manufacturer in the north west.

Family baker Roberts Bakery won the food and drink accolade at the Insider 'Made in the North West' awards held at the Park Royal Hotel, in Warrington.

The judging panel was impressed with the company’s long heritage and vision for the future and described it as ‘an ambitious fourth generation business that puts its money where its mouth is’.

Despite a challenging retail market, the family-owned business has continually invested in plant, equipment and staff to increase brand share.

In the past year it has invested more than £15million in a new bread plant, a state-of-the-art biscuit auto decorating line and a new plant to manufacture a new range of sandwich thins at the company’s second site in Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

From modest beginnings back in 1887, it now produces two million consistently high quality loaves of bread and more than a million bread rolls a week.

Following its success in the north west awards, Roberts Bakery will go head to head against seven other regional finalists at the national ‘Made in the UK’ final awards in Liverpool on July 9.

Robert Higginson, chairman of Frank Roberts and Sons, said: “ We’re delighted to win this award, which recognises the hard work of everyone within our business to produce a consistently high quality product.

"The north west awards celebrate the contribution of manufacturers in the region, which is at the heart of the UK’s manufacturing sector, and we’re very much looking forward to the next stage."