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McDaid's Bakery announces £1.6m facility expansion

Invest NI Pictured (L-R) are Gráinne Moody, Director of Food and Drink, Invest NI, John McDaid, Managing Director, U-Bake and Aeidin McCarter, Head of Regional Business for the North West region, Invest NI.Invest NI
U-Bake, known also as McDaid's Bakery, is undertaking the investment with support from Invest Northern Ireland's Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII)

Londonderry-based bakery manufacturer U-Bake, known as McDaid's Bakery, is investing £1.6m in its Skeoge industrial estate facility, creating 15 new jobs and increasing production capacity.

U-Bake is undertaking the investment with support from Invest Northern Ireland's Agri-Food Investment Initiative (AFII).

The project will see the introduction of a new high-speed production line for high-volume products, robotic packing technology and increased freezing capacity.

U-Bake is a fourth-generation family-owned business which manufactures fresh and frozen bakery products for food service, retail and wholesale customers across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland.

The investment, which will receive about £210,000 in support from Invest NI, is expected to improve manufacturing productivity, reduce changeovers and downtime between production runs, and increase overall efficiency and output.

Gráinne Moody, director of Food and Drink at Invest NI, said: "U-Bake is a long-established business with deep roots in the local area and a strong reputation for supplying quality bakery products across Ireland.

"This £1.6m investment will help it adopt advanced production technology and automation, increase productivity and strengthen its ability to compete and grow in a rapidly evolving marketplace."

Managing director John McDaid said growing demand, particularly in the Irish food-service sector, had highlighted the need to increase production capacity.

"It is the first step in our long-term growth plans, enabling us to meet demand in Ireland while preparing to attract new customers across Britain and Europe."

The new roles will be based at the company's Derry facility, while existing employees will also have opportunities to develop skills in modern manufacturing and automation technologies.

'Strengthen wider local economy'

Aeidin McCarter, Invest NI's head of north west regional business, said the organisation had supported U-Bake's export sales growth since 2009.

"As well as creating 15 new jobs in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, this latest investment will also support existing team members to develop new skills.

"Investments such as this, which improves productivity, skills and local employment opportunities not only contribute to U-Bake's plans for growth, but strengthen our wider local economy."

Invest NI Aeidin McCarter has brown long hair and is wearing a green shirt standing near a glassy door.Invest NI
Invest NI's Aeidin McCarter said the investment will also support existing team members to develop new skills

Foyle MP Colum Eastwood welcomed the investment in what he called "a renowned family-owned business that has gone from strength to strength over the years".

"McDaid's Bakery products are well known across the island of Ireland and have a growing reputation in Britain too.

"This increased manufacturing capacity will allow them to build on that success.

"The creation of 15 additional jobs at McDaid's Skeoge site will provide valuable employment opportunities for people in our city, while allowing existing staff to develop skills in modern production and automation technologies.