FOB Celebrates 75th Anniversary

The Federation of Bakers’ marked its 75th Anniversary with a special industry dinner on Wednesday, 27th September at Fishmongers’ Hall in the City of London. The event saw over 150 bread industry stakeholders, both past and present, gather to mark the industry’s special landmark year and was an ideal opportunity for the industry to gather, celebrate and reflect on the past 75 years and to look to the future and the many challenges that lie ahead.

Keynote Speaker Digby Jones delivered an uplifting and thought provoking speech congratulating the industry on its many achievements over the past 75 years including the introduction of the Chorleywood Bread Process which revolutionised bread production in the UK. He applauded the industry for its role as a major contributor to the wealth and health of the nation with over £3.5 billion in retail sales, employing over 20,000 staff in bakeries baking and delivering daily fresh bread the length and breadth of the UK, and its work with government on important health issues such as salt reduction.

FOB Chairman, Mike Roberts, said “It is my great privilege to be Chairman of the Federation of Bakers at this important industry milestone and I am pleased that so many key members of the Federation of Bakers, both past and present, were able to join us to celebrate. The Federation of Bakers has changed significantly since it was founded in 1942 to manage the National Loaf during World War Two but the prime objectives remain the same: the promotion, protection and representation of the interests of bakers and managing the expectations and issues surrounding the need to ensure bread is valued part of a healthy balanced diet. We need a strong trade association to ensure bread and morning goods are protected and regulated the way we wish them to be and not how others would want it. It is particularly interesting to note that in both 1981 and 1991 the Government of the day thought it was important enough to remind consumers that they should eat more bread as part of their balanced diet. Those were our halcyon days and we will continue to work hard to provide the nation with its favourite staple with a wide range of nutritious bread and bakery products.”

The Federation of Bakers and its members would like to thank its generous sponsors for supporting the event: AB Mauri, Baker Perkins, Bühler, Kwik Lok, Lesaffre, Zeelandia and Zeppelin.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

The Federation of Bakers was formed in 1942 to organise wartime distribution of bread.

Today the Federation of Bakers represents the interests of the UK’s largest baking companies who manufacture sliced and wrapped bread, bakery snacks and other bread products. It is a £3.5 billion industry at retail sales value, employing over 20,000 people who supply the majority of the nation’s bread.

It has 9 member companies running 33 bakeries in the United Kingdom.

For further information about the Federation of Bakers please contact: amy.yeates@fob.uk.com