´óÏó´«Ã½

Ninety three workers wait to hear if their jobs are safe after a Flintshire bakery was taken over.

Frank Roberts and Sons is carrying out a review after buying P&A Davies' bakery at Hawarden Industrial Park.

The firm acquired the bakery after P&A Davies went into administration last week.

Coun Billy Mullin said the news had come as a big shock as the bakery had been opened less than a year ago.

"They invested a substantial amount of money and did a first class job on the bakery," he said.

"With all the investment this is the last thing you think would happen.

"It employs a lot of local people. Being taken over doesn't mean anything - we will be talking to Flintshire council's economic development people to see what can be done."

Frank Roberts and Sons said all orders will continue to be honoured by the bakery while a strategic review to determine an "integration plan" is carried out.

The company did not take on P&A Davies' six shops in Chester which closed last week.

Business model

Mike Braddock, managing director of Frank Roberts and Sons, said: "P&A Davies is a well respected business and the two companies share many values and a long heritage in quality baking.

"We look forward to working with them to establish a more profitable and viable business model going forward."

P&A Davies bakers was set up by founder Francis Davis in Chester in 1889.

The new owners, Roberts Bakery, operates from Rudheath, Cheshire, producing 1.5 million loaves a week.

Last month, Warburtons confirmed 114 jobs could be lost at its Newport bakery as the family-owned breadmaker considers proposals to close its facility at Rogerstone for "operational reasons".

In August, Wrexham's Ecclestons Confectioners which had 10 stores across north Wales closed suddenly with 42 full and part-time workers losing their jobs.