Finsbury Food Group is rolling out a multi-million-pound investment plan at its dedicated foodservice site, Kara, reinforcing its commitment to the growing out-of-home and wholesale bakery markets.

Kara: A Key Player in Foodservice

Based in Whitefield, Manchester, Kara currently produces over 1.2 million bread rolls per day, supplying national wholesalers and end-users across hospitality, healthcare, education, and quick-serve grab-and-go sectors. The site produces floured baps, brioche-style buns, and ready-to-roll pizza doughballs.

Transformative Investment Across Two Phases

The investment will be rolled out over the next 12 months, with a focus on improving quality, efficiency, and innovation:

  • Phase One: Enhances product consistency with the introduction of a robotic water splitter for a greater variety of designs and finishes on rolls and loaves. Asset upgrades will also be made across the proofing and packing areas.

  • Phase Two (2026): Will optimise product presentation, enhance efficiencies throughout the end-to-end process, and upgrade the pizza doughball production line with a new divider and line setup to meet rising demand from the quick-serve sector.

Suzanne Cooper, Site Operations Manager at Kara, said:

“This is a transformative time for Kara, we’re upgrading almost every part of our production process, from proofing and slicing, to packing and wrapping, to improve quality, drive efficiency and unlock innovation for our customers. From advanced robotics to new packaging lines, this investment is a major vote of confidence from Finsbury in the future of Kara and the wider foodservice market.”

Sustainability and Efficiency at Kara

The investment also focuses on sustainability and energy efficiency. Initiatives include:

  • Adoption of smart LED lighting

  • Improved internal temperature controls to reduce heat loss

  • Rollout of a site-wide energy management system

These align with Finsbury Food Group’s wider ESG commitments and sustainability strategy.

Kara’s Role in Finsbury Food Group

Originally acquired by Finsbury in 2014 as part of the Fletchers Group of Bakeries, Kara remains the group’s only site dedicated exclusively to foodservice. This ongoing investment highlights Finsbury’s broader strategy to innovate, scale, and strengthen market presence across foodservice and export channels in the UK and Europe.

Explore Kara and Finsbury Innovation

Discover how Finsbury Food Group and Kara are driving innovation, efficiency, and growth across the UK foodservice market. From advanced bakery robotics to enhanced production lines, explore how they’re delivering high-quality, consistent products to meet evolving customer needs.