Northumbrian Fine Foods to boost baking production capabilities of Gateshead facility in UK

UK-based gluten-free biscuit manufacturer Northumbrian Fine Foods (NFF) is enhancing the baking production capabilities at its Gateshead facility.

With this move, the company intends to cater to the growing demand for its biscuits in the ‘free from’ sector, which has experienced a turnover increase by 80% in the last five years.

The company will invest £1.2m in the facility.

Operational by September, the baking oven will increase production capacity by 40% and produce ‘indulgent’ cookies, rotary moulded biscuits and bake bars such as granola.

Around 40 new jobs will be created by the investment, which will take the total employment count at the facility to around 200 people.

NFF managing director Stewart McLelland said: "This investment is great news for Gateshead and is testament to the hard work of everyone at Northumbrian Fine Foods.

"We have seen significant growth in the ‘free from’ market for our ‘indulgent cookies’ and other biscuits, especially from the multiple retail sector.

"The new baking oven will play a key role in meeting current demand and also ensure that we can continue to grow the business significantly over the coming years."

In addition to manufacturing products for supermarkets’ own-labels, NFF manufactures biscuits under the Prewett’s brand, which includes milk-free biscuits, ‘indulgent’ all-butter cookies and individually wrapped chocolate coated biscuit bars. All these products are gluten-free.

"We are planning further extensions to our range that will focus on everyday favourite biscuits in a variety of formats," said McLelland.

NFF’s facility is claimed to currently cater to about 60% of the UK’s gluten-free sweet biscuit production.

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Image: Northumbrian Fine Foods (NFF) is boosting baking production capabilities at its Gateshead facility. Photo: courtesy of Northumbrian Fine Foods.