New hope for workers at Maple Leaf Bakery

A number of businesses are interested in taking over Walsall's Maple Leaf Bakery, it can be revealed today, giving hope to its 236 workers.

Several interested parties have inquired about the historic bakery, which is threatened with closure unless a new buyer can be found. Union bosses today said they had been surprised at the level of interest in the Raleigh Street site in such a short space of time, putting it down to Maple Leaf's well established reputation and skilled workforce.

The Express & Star revealed last week that the site is poised to close by March due to owners, Maple Leaf Bakery UK, pulling out of the sliced bread market.

Maple Leaf is instead focussing on speciality breads, such as bagels, ciabattas and croissants, at a plant in Yorkshire.

Bosses and union representatives held a meeting this week to discuss the future of the workforce.

John Higgins, from the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, who was at the meeting, said: "Hopefully it will be sold as a going concern because of its excellent reputation. It is so well known both in the town and in the industry."