Viv’s no time to loaf about now she’s No1

Warburtons has appointed a new general manager at its Pennine bakery in Shaw — the first female general manager in the company’s 134-year history.

Vivienne Jones joins the national family bakers Glebe Street site from Premier Foods, where she was factory manager at its Reading site.

The 36-year-old will be responsible for managing 188 people at the bakery which bakes and distributes some of the group’s most popular products, including 800g White Medium and 800g Toastie, to major supermarkets and independent retailers across the North-West.

Originally from North Wales, she is delighted to have made a return to the North and is “very much” looking forward to her new role in Oldham.

Vivienne said: “I am thrilled to be joining a bakery in Warburtons’ heartland.

“I have the privilege of working with a very capable and experienced team — many of whom have worked with the company for a number of years.”

Vivienne believes that Warburtons is well placed to adapt to an ever-changing market place with the family business continuing to focus on producing quality products, investing in it employees and looking for new innovative products.

And finally, Vivienne’s favourite Warburtons product is its famous Toastie loaf which she grew up on. “It was always a favourite in our household” she added.

Established in a grocery shop in Bolton in 1876 by Thomas and Ellen Warburton, the business is run by the fifth generation of the Warburton family — Jonathan, Brett and Ross with 14 bakeries and 13 depots from the Scottish Islands and Highlands to Southampton.

Warburtons produces more than two million loaves, rolls and crumpets every day.