A County Armagh company is creating 20 jobs as part of a move to create Europe’s biggest gluten free bakery.
Stone Bakery is investing £4 million and planning to refurbish and extend the former Take N’ Bake factory in Crossmaglen in a move which will double turnover in the next three years.
It will produce vegan, dairy-free and gluten free flatbreads for both the local and international market.
“The McNamee family has been baking in Crossmaglen for over 80 years and I’m incredibly proud to continue that tradition with the opening of the first dedicated ‘free-from’ manufacturing facility in Northern Ireland,” Ronan McNamee, Stone Bakery business owner, said. “This investment will allow us to continue the world class bakery tradition in Crossmaglen while fulfilling the fast-growing consumer demand for ‘free-from’ products.
He said trust is a big part of the company’s ethos.
“From my experience in the baking industry, consumer trust in the food chain is as much a driver for growth in our business as quality and taste. Delivering on our ambition to be the most trusted gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan bakery brand in the world, our new Stone Bakery manufacturing site will enable us to control the entire chain from seed to shelf and continue to supply the best quality flatbreads in the market with total processing transparency.”
Stone Bakery has been assisted by Invest Northern Ireland to establish its presence in Crossmaglen with an offer of support of £425,000 towards the new jobs and a range of specialised equipment required to manufacture its range of flatbreads.
“We’re delighted to support Stone Bakery’s innovative new business in Northern Ireland,” Brian Dolaghan, Executive Director of Invest NI. “The growth of the ‘free-from’ food market is continuing, and Stone Bakery has its sights set on growing its share of this market across GB, Europe and beyond including North America.
