A HIGH-FLYER from Oswestry has landed a top job with one of the UK’s leading bakery firms.

Florence Roberts, 29 and known as Floss, has been appointed the group new product development (NPD) manager, where she previously worked as an assistant at the Wrexham-based Village Bakery.

Most recently she has been working to develop new products for the company’s gluten-free bakery, Gluten Freedom, and her appointment comes ahead of plans to open their new super bakery this summer, which is expected to create 115 new jobs.

Floss, who now lives near Shrewsbury, said she was looking forward to the challenge.

She added: “The main thing about working at the Village Bakery is that you never get bored – it’s fast-paced and every day is different.

“The company has a ‘grow-your-own’ tradition of rewarding people who work hard and the vast majority of the supervisors and bakery managers started out as apprentices.

“We’ve got a very keen eye for the right type of people, people who are hardworking, who can also work smart and if that’s you, then you’ll do really well here.

“I’m really thankful to the Village Bakery. I don’t think there are many other companies that I could have gone to and progressed to where I am now – I’ve been really well looked after.

“One thing I particularly like about the Village Bakery is that we can make things happen really quickly and our customers love that about us.

“The development of new and exciting products is always a priority here and that is something that sets us apart from our competitors. We’re always trying to stay one step ahead of the market.

“We are raising the bar again with the new bakery and the new NPD centre is fantastic. It’s twice the size of the one it’s replacing, and we are aiming to take things to a whole new level.

“It’s going to be a high-class facility where we can bring customers on site and wow them with our fantastic test bakery and our innovative new products.”

Managing director Robin Jones said: “I’ve taken great pleasure in watching Floss blossom and develop, from her initial role as a spec writer to an NPD Manager to now Group NPD manager.

“That’s a fantastic achievement and again, she’s a pleasure to work with, the customers enjoy Floss’s positivity and can-do attitude. All credit to her, she has done an amazing job.

“She’s committed and she has built a great team around her which has enabled her to step up."

Chairman Andrew Taylor added: “The appointment Floss to this key roles herald the beginning of an even brighter future for the Village Bakery.

“The new investment will provide extra momentum to the growth strategy, creating 115 new jobs and providing a boost to the economy of Wrexham and the wider region.”

The new bakery in Ash Road has been designed and built with growth in mind and at 140,000 sq feet is more than three times the size of the one it is replacing following a devastating fire in August 2019.