Our story
From 1887 to today, and beyond
2020
Extra Goodness
We bring out our Good For You range – bloomers with added health benefits.
The Flouring
2020
Extraordinary times, speedy solutions
In response to the Covid-19 crisis, we start home deliveries of bread and baking kits.
2019
Doing something drastic about plastic
We launch the first major bread bag with 53% less plastic.
2018
We’re Bread Winners
Our Heroic Wholemeal stays true to its name, taking top spot for Bakery in the Grocer New Product Award.
2017
A Sweet Award
Our cocktail teacakes are named Top Bread Category Launch in the Grocer Magazines Top Product Survey!
2017
Embracing the new
We have a bit of a makeover, so our brand looks as remarkable as it tastes.
2012
Test kitchen opens
125 years in, and we’re still evolving, opening a third bakery in Northwich. We also open our state-of-the-art test kitchen, The Exploratory to make more scrummy discoveries.
2000
Cool New Features
We build our iconic, transparent cooling towers, so everyone can follow our loaves’ journey from oven to bag.
1980s
100th Anniversary
100 years old and still fresh. Our bread’s now reaching as far afield as Greece. These days, you’ll find Roberts fans everywhere from America to Japan. Great bread knows no boundaries!
1970s
New generations, new stores
We add a fourth generation, with Mike and Julia Roberts (not that one), then Lindsay Roberts. They’re full of fresh ideas! And Roberts starts supplying Sainsbury’s.
1960s
Loads of Loaves
We reach 90,000 loaves a week, with 200 bread-lovers and 50 vehicles. Roberts is a household name across Cheshire.
1950s
Moving on up
We move to our current home in Northwich. With 12 brilliant bakers producing over 600 loaves an hour, we’re growing fast. Frank’s sons, led by Alan, take over to lead the charge.
1940s
Keeping calm and carrying on
We plough on through the war years – they’re tough, with many of our people called up. Afterwards, we regather, as a new generation joins the team – Frank’s sons Alan, Bernard and David.
1930s
All About the Bread
Frank takes charge, and decides to go all in on bread. To make more room for innovation, we expand, going from two to eight bakers.
1920s
New contraptions
Proving that the best thing is sliced bread, we pioneer the use of new-fangled bread-slicers, and speedy wrapping machines. Freeing up our bakers to focus fully on baking.
1900-1920s
We are Family
More Roberts family members join the fun. Robert’s son Frank; his wife, Mary; and their kids, Frank, Annie, Alice, Ada and Nellie. Three generations and counting.
1887
Small Shop, Big Ideas
Robert opens his first shop in Northwich, selling and delivering yummy groceries (like bread). The locals lap it up.
1860s
Starting Young
Our founder Robert Roberts (yes, that was his name, and yes, it is awesome) begins a bread baking and grocery apprenticeship in Salford, at the ripe old age of 11. He’s inspired by the possibilities.