The Brace’s Bread story gets better.
I dropped in this morning to congratulate the two brothers who run this century old Gwent family enterprise. Mark and Jonathan Brace have every right to be proud of their work. This has been an exciting story.
- From left PF, Brace’s Director Jonathan Brace, Brace’s Managing Director Mark Brace (seated), Richard Mynott, Executive General Manager at Brace’s Rogerstone site, Councillor Matthew Evans, Leader of Newport City Council.
It’s every MP’s dream to have locally based firms with roots that stretch deeply into the local community. Brace’s was founded in 1903 and their first major contract was with Oakdale Colliery in 1919.
Last year I argued with the predecessor firm Warburtons that they had over-expanded the bread making capacity at Bristol and Newport. Both firms put in bids for the Newport site when it was up for sale. Buying firms in order to close them down is not an unknown tactic by firms seeking to diminish the challenge of competition. There was the whiff of gazumping about the original sale to Warburtons.
The threat to close the Newport plant was distressing for the staff. It came shortly before last Christmas. Nearly 12 months after Brace’s £4billion acquisition of Rogerstone the firm today an increase of 26 in their workforce bringing the total up to 77. The reason is the firm’s successful expansion into sandwiches. It was news to me that special bread is baked for sandwiches. It is a growing market with worthwhile added value.
Mark Brace paid a tribute today to the 'dedicated and efficient staff who have contributed in no small way too the current success.’ Team manager Martin Pritchard said ‘There are exciting times ahead.’
So say all of us.
Braces have been a family run company in Oakdale for many years, employed the residents of Oakdale too for many years and has grown from a small building to a large factory which now employs 100's of staff, so then why oh why did they not sponsor the Oakdale century a few years back after being asked. Warburtons did! Some companies forget where they come from and what make them able to become what they are today!
Posted by: steve | November 22, 2011 at 11:28 AM
I have no idea about this allegation. I do know that they have delivered on jobs.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | November 22, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Looks like they do loads from the website, including donating bread to Ty Hafan. What's "Oakdale Century"?
Posted by: DG | November 23, 2011 at 10:48 AM