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Morrisons Proposes Closure of Rathbones Bakery in Wakefield, Putting 115 Jobs at Risk

The grocer says the site remains loss-making despite a 2024 overhaul.

Overview

  • Morrisons says it can no longer see a route to breakeven at the Wakefield bakery after reviewing alternatives.
  • A 2024 restructuring cut about 270 roles and shifted production from white bread to specialty items such as pita, crumpets, pancakes and rolls.
  • The company is weighing whether to sell or repurpose the 28,000 sq ft site, with its future use yet to be decided.
  • Staff affected by the proposal will be offered support, including potential roles elsewhere in the Myton Group, and in-store bakery counters will be unaffected.
  • Rathbones dates to 1893 and was acquired by Morrisons in 2005, and the retailer said its manufacturing arm lost a third-party bakery contract last year.