BAKO Group has announced its acquisition of BAKO Western, following a vote by BAKO Western’s members on 26th November 2025.

The Preston-based supplier of bakery products and ingredients has said that the acquisition is the “latest step in the expansion of BAKO Group’s operations across the UK”, following on from the merger of its three regional trading divisions in Preston, Durham and Wimbledon, and the acquisition of Finlay’s Foods in Northern Ireland in 2024.

BAKO Group and BAKO Western have shared a brand since an agreement made in the 1960s, but according to BAKO Group, the two businesses have traded independently until now.

Following the acquisition, BAKO Group has said it will operate a multi-temperature fleet of more than 100 vehicles, making deliveries to more than 5,000 customers, through depots in Cullompton, Durham, Preston and Wimbledon, as well as Finlay’s Foods in Belfast, employing a total of 440 people across all five sites.

“Bringing the companies together provides substantial operational advantages.”

BAKO Group CEO Mike Tully commented: “This acquisition is great news for BAKO’s customers across the UK and is a sign of our ongoing commitment to supporting the bakery industry, nationwide.

“Bringing the companies together provides substantial operational advantages, including optimised supply chains, increased buying power, shared resources, and enhanced production capabilities.

“In an increasingly turbulent world, we are confident that the combined strength of this unification will help us in our mission to support future generations of bakers across the entire country to succeed and thrive together.”