100 new jobs created as Palethorpes Bakery distribution centre opens in Market Drayton

Palethorpes Bakery's state-of-the-art distribution centre in Market Drayton will help produce 55 million sausage rolls and 35 million hot pies a year.

It features the latest in refrigeration technology and boasts a capacity for more than 700 pallets, producing 115 million products every year.

The expansion has led to a major recruitment drive and is the latest big business development to bring jobs to Shropshire.

Watch a timelapse video of the centre being built:

It comes after car parts firm Magna created 300 jobs by opening a plant in Telford in April. And plastics firm Craemer is building a new factory in Telford, creating 70 jobs.

The new Palethorpes facility, which has been built at the firm's existing site in Maer Lane, will be officially opened by the mayor of Market Drayton, Mark Whittle, and Louisa James and Alex Birch, despatch employees at Palethorpes' parent company, Addo Food Groups.

The site requires additional staff across the full range of its operational positions offered on full and part-time shifts, days and nights.

Jason Page, HR manager from Palethorpes Bakery, said: “This is a very exciting time for us here at Palthorpes Bakery, with more than £1 million investment in improving our distribution capacity and the creation of over 100 new jobs.

"We’re actively involved in the community here in Market Drayton and are interested to hear from candidates who want to find out about the exciting opportunities we have to offer.”

Outreach programme

Palethorpes is also looking to the future by creating an outreach programme with Market Drayton's Grove School, aiming to inspire the next generation and ensure the town has the skills in place to fill vacancies in years to come.

The hope is that the programme, which offers school leavers career advice, highlights the skills required to succeed in the workplace and showcase the variety of roles available in the food and grocery industry as well as providing hands-on help with creating CVs and dealing with challenging interview questions, will develop a pipeline of talented young people who could be directed to a career with one of the town’s largest employers.

As part of a rebranding programme of Palethorpes' parent company, the Addo Food Group, the Market Drayton site became known as Palethorpes Bakery in 2015.

The Palethorpes Bakery now has over 650 employees and said it is also proud of its wider engagement with the local community in Market Drayton, supporting many local charity initiatives and events ranging from the Market Drayton 10k, Rock ‘n’ Bowl Festival, Joules Brewery Pie ‘n’ Pint, sponsorship of Market Drayton Town Football Club and its affiliate clubs as well as supporting Market Drayton’s Christmas Lights.

With salaries ranging from £15,676 to £21,922 per annum dependant on shift patterns and experience, interested applicants in the new jobs are encouraged to speak to the Palethorpes Bakery recruitment team on 01630 692355.