40 jobs to go as Firkins shuts bakery

Firkins is closing its Black Country bakery with the loss of 40 jobs, it was announced today — but the firm's 33 shops will survive.

Drivers and bakery workers at the 141-year-old firm are among those who have been made redundant.

The company's shops, including branches in Wolverhampton, Dudley, Oldbury and West Bromwich, which employ 189 people will continue to trade as normal.

Newbridge Bakery (Productions) Ltd, which owns the company, announced the closure of the bakery in Black Lake, West Bromwich which has been placed into liquidation.

A statement today said: "Unfortunately the bakery was not up to the standards required of a modern bakery and the cost to maintain and improve this site was no longer financially viable.

"The business was a supplier to the Firkins Bakery Retail Shops. These shops are unaffected by this closure and will be supplied by Oliver Adams Bakery of Northampton."