Robin Jones

The Village Bakery has become a major UK craft bakery and employer in North Wales. The company has grown significantly to reach sales of £33 million and employs a workforce of over 250, 97% of which live within four miles of the bakery. The company supplies a range of retailers including the Co-operative, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.  In 2013 it was named top in the Fast Growth 50 companies in Wales. The company is made up of four divisions, one of these is Village Bakery Nutrition - the UK’s largest gluten free bakery. The company won the Welsh Export Award in 2011. In 2011 Village Bakery opened a new site in Wrexham to produce morning goods. The new bakery has created 50 new jobs.

In 2013, this success was recognised as the company won the M&S Best Medium sized supplier award sector. A local sourcing policy has been in operation for over 10 years and led by Robin who could see that there were opportunities to develop the provenance and create truly Welsh products for the mass market. This has meant that the company sources key ingredients from other Welsh suppliers such as Welsh butter and butter milk. The company has also developed an onsite training facility offering NVQs in Bakery Technology. The Village Bakery is the only Bakery business to enter the UK Craft Baker of the Year 3 times and win 3 times. In 2010, Robin Jones was recognised as UK Baker of the Year, a highly prestigious industry award.