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Work starts on £16M bakery

9/ 5/2008

WORK has started in Openshaw on a new £16 million bakery for Greggs which will safeguard more than 300 jobs.

The construction of the 75,000 sq ft building on Parkhouse Street, which was formerly a factory has been made possible through a joint initiative between Manchester City Council, New East Manchester and Greggs assisted by a £7 million grant from the North West Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

The relocation to the new site will also lead to the development of many higher skilled jobs within the new bakery and the expansion of employment within local shops, all of which are supplied daily by Greggs Bakeries.

Within the new bakery there will be new and complex technology and machinery put into action resulting in staff being trained for their new highly skilled jobs.

Ian Pegg, Managing Director of Greggs North West, said: "Greggs is hugely committed to the North West and the start of work at the new bakery is a milestone in our regional expansion strategy.

"We are delighted with the progress to date."

Eddie Smith, Chief Executive of New East Manchester said: "It's great to see this new facility start to take shape. Greggs is a major local employer and this brand new building acts as a symbol of the company's commitment to the area. This is an excellent example of joined-up regeneration where the public and private sector work in partnership for the benefit of the local community."

Damien Bourke, Policy and Partnerships Manager at the North West Development Agency, said: "The Agency's investment into this project will help to secure the future of Greggs in East Manchester, safeguarding over 300 jobs and helping to create new skilled jobs for the area. The new premises will also help to drive wider regeneration in east Manchester."

The building is due to be completed in September with a number of departments expected to be operating from the new site by Christmas.