Company History
| 1935 |
Allied Bakeries founded by Willard Garfield
Weston with seven bakeries |
| 1950s |
Sunblest branded loaves on sale |
| 1960 |
Parent company Associated British Foods
formed |
| 1979 |
Six Spillers bakeries acquired when Spillers
withdrew from the market |
| 1980s |
Allinson brand joined our portfolio and first
wholemeal bread sold |
| 1986 |
Launch of Mighty White, a softgrain white loaf
that took the bakery market by storm |
| 1990 |
Kingsmill brand introduced |
| 1997 |
Burgen Soya & Linseed launched |
| 2006 |
HQ moves from Staines to Maidenhead |
| 2007 |
Kingsmill brand relaunch |
| 2009 |
Launch of Little BIG Loaf, the first small loaf
with full-size slices |
| 2010 |
Oatlicious launched |
| 2011 |
Introduction of bread bags made from 100%
recycled virgin waste on Crusts Away! and Little Big Loaf |
Our story so far
Allied Bakeries was founded by Willard Garfield Weston in 1935.
Initially incorporated as Food Investments Ltd on 2 November of
that year, the name was changed to Allied Bakeries Ltd on 9
December. At that time, the company consisted of seven bakeries
that had previously operated as independent family businesses in
locations as far apart as Edinburgh, Cardiff and London.
By 1938, Allied Bakeries had more than doubled in size by
acquiring nine more bakeries. By 1952, it controlled 50 bakeries,
and by 1966 the number had grown to 84.
In parallel with these developments on the bakery side of the
business, other food producing and retailing concerns were being
acquired, both in Britain and abroad, to form the parent company,
Associated British Foods, in 1960.
Sales of wholemeal bread started to take off in the early 1980s.
In 1984, Allinson joined with the British Heart Foundation to
highlight the benefit of wholegrain and fibre in the diet.
In 2007, a major focus on quality and service included a
Kingsmill relaunch that inspired its listing today as a UK top 10
grocery brand. The relaunch included new colourful packaging and
"sunshine burst" logo.
While the way bread is made is fundamentally unchanged over the
years, as with other bakeries, technology, process improvements and
business efficiencies have led to consolidation and restructuring.
Today, Allied Bakeries operates a national network of bakeries and
depots all focused on delivering great tasting fresh bread and
bakery products day in, day out.