A bakery boss has paid tribute to his loyal workforce who have doubled bread production in the wake of the panic buying caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Robin Jones, managing director of the Wrexham-based Village Bakery, revealed staff were working 12-hour shifts to keep up with the spiralling demand, particularly for bread and rolls.

The bakery has also seen a huge surge in sales of their crumpets, pikelets and pancakes – and to a lesser extent their scones.  Jones is now urging shoppers to calm down, and is keen to reassure the public that there is absolutely no need to panic, at least as far as bread is concerned, because there are plentiful supplies of bakery products available.

Jones also encouraged people to shop local and support independent stores, as he explained that this was the second time his “brilliant team” at the Village Bakery had stepped up to the plate in very difficult circumstances.

Last August their flagship bakery on Wrexham Industrial Estate was destroyed by a fire that ripped through the premises which also included their head office, Baking Academy and new product development kitchen.

The company have started already started to build a new bakery four times the size which is due to be operational in a year’s time, while in the meantime every inch of their remaining three bakeries is being used to maximise production, to such effect that they have already restored all of their lost capacity.

Mr Jones reassured customers that there was no need to panic regarding bread supplies:

“The demand for bread and rolls has gone through the roof and as a result we have seen a 200 per cent increase in production.

“All our retailer customers, independents as well as supermarkets, have been incredibly busy and the message is that this is the time to shop local because the local retailers and shopkeepers have got stocks in.

“One message I would like to get out is that there is absolutely no need to panic buy –  there will always be plentiful supplies if people just calm down a bit. Nobody is going to run out.

“I also want to pay tribute to our brilliant team here at the Village Bakery for rising magnificently to the challenge once again. They are coming up trumps. They are real heroes.”