A Cumbrian food manufacturer has doubled the size of its workforce, thanks in part to Regional Growth Fund investment from Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

Traybakes Ltd, which has established its headquarters at the Food Technology Centre at Redhills Business Park in Penrith, has expanded its operations over the last two years after investing in the latest equipment and securing a string of new business contracts.

The company’s tray bakes are lovingly made by hand in small batches using traditional recipes and baking methods that have been passed down through generations.

With demand for its products increasing, the company quickly outgrew its previous premises and needed to adopt new technology to meet the rising demand for its cakes.

Regional Growth Funding supported the purchase of a chocolate tempering machine and associated equipment to ensure the chocolate is at the perfect temperature to work with, as well as new sets of cutting blocks and blades for the batching of cakes.

It means that Traybakes can now service bigger nationwide clients as well as local customers – and has even resulted in an approach from Amazon to sell its produce through the leading website.  They were also asked to supply their produce to the 2016 Wimbledon Championships.

Traybakes Ltd managing director Justine Carruthers explains:  “It doesn’t seem a minute ago that we were a team of ten but we now have twenty members of staff in all as the orders keep coming in.

“We have recently secured big contracts with major distributors like Amazon and North South Retail.  Those successes are already opening up new opportunities and we’re in discussion with several other household names.

“Everything we make is prepared fresh to order and we simply wouldn’t have been able to meet this rising demand if it hadn’t been for the additional ingredient of funding via Cumbria LEP.

“We have also been able to invest in a new integrated business system, with hardware and software which manages the entire production process from procurement right through to despatch.  That’s been vital in managing these new, larger national accounts.

“The funding has supported a complete rebrand for us too.  That has included a new look for our logo and packaging, and the addition of a smart trade stand for exhibiting.

“I’m incredibly proud of what the whole team is now achieving together – it has put us on a completely different playing field.”

Traybakes cakes have a truly authentic homemade look and a taste and are sold to a wide range of customers, from wholesalers to independent retailers.  Its dedicated bakery team creates a variety of high quality tray bakes, produced in service trays tailored for the food service industry or provided in individually wrapped slices or shelf ready cartons.

Director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership Graham Haywood adds:  “Traybakes’ success is an inspiring example of how smaller businesses can achieve rapid growth with fit for purpose premises, equipment and financial backing.  It is another clear illustration of how Regional Growth Fund investment and business support is helping local firms compete and thrive in bigger markets.”

Traybakes is SALSA accredited which guarantees its customers high standards of food safety and full traceability of ingredients through to its finished products.  For further information, visit www.Traybakes.com or call 01768 899 888.