Lochore: Bayne's want to extend bakery at Loanhead Avenue

The firm wants to open another 69 shops in Scotland, practically doubling their current presence on the high streets which stands at 71 units, which would be served by their main industrial site on Loanhead Avenue.

SM Bayne, which trades as 'Bayne's the Family Bakers', employs almost 1,000 people in Lochore and said the plans will create 15 more jobs in the village and a further 300 roles across the new shops.

The firm was founded in 1954 by John Bayne when he saw an opportunity to make steak pies for local miners.

They have now submitted a planning application to Fife Council, seeking consent for an extension to the Orwell Bakery facility.

Bayne's want to practically double the number of shops from 71 to 140. (Image: Google)

A statement on their behalf from John Handley Associates Ltd explained: "As part of a major growth and diversification of the bakery business, Bayne's are embarking on a significant expansion programme, which will include the opening of a further 69 new shop units across Scotland.

"As a key part of this expansion programme, SM Bayne are currently in the process of finalising the purchase of part of the allocated employment site which lies directly adjacent to their existing facility from Fife Council.

"The purchase of the site will allow SM Bayne to progress the much-needed extension of their existing facility at Lochore, which will in turn allow the company to expand manufacturing operations at Lochore to service their growing retail business.

"The proposed extension is therefore needed to support the expansion of the retail side of the company which will see the 71 current shop units increased to 140 units across Scotland, all serviced from the Lochore manufacturing and distribution base.

"This is therefore a significant investment by a successful local business, and represents a £11m capital investment in the Lochore facility."

Bayne's have outlined £11m plans for their Lochore HQ. (Image: Bayne's / Fife Council planning papers)

Bayne's have opened five new shops since 2023 and are planning to open "three to four new shops annually over the next 10 years".

They will also invest in product innovation and digital transformation to "meet evolving customer needs".

The statement said that while Bayne's have grown over the past few decades, they "remain committed to their Fife manufacturing and HQ base".

The site includes the existing bakery complex, a garage, yard and parking.

The area earmarked for the expansion is made up of "undeveloped" woodland which is considered to be of "poor quality and limited conservation value"

Previously the land was part of wider mining operations in Lochore which are believed to have ceased in the early 1900’s.

The proposed extension would be to the north of the existing main building and would include the reconfiguration of the garage to allow the bakery hall to be extended by 1,575 square metres.

There are also plans for a larger store room and van driver welfare facilities.

The statement added: "The proposals will help to safeguard existing local jobs; provide long term job security; and create opportunities for further local job creation.

"Bayne’s anticipate that around 15 new positions would be created once the works have been completed and the extended facility has been fully opened.

"These will be new job opportunities and are expected to be taken up by local people.

"In addition to the new jobs created at the extended manufacturing base, Bayne’s anticipate that the opening of the new shop units will create opportunities for over 300 new staff in a variety of locations across Scotland."

John Bayne, joint managing director at Bayne’s, said: “We are incredibly proud of the growth Bayne’s has achieved over the last 70 years.

"Reaching the milestone of our 70th shop in our 70th anniversary year is a significant moment for us, but it is only one step in a much broader journey.

"The planning and development of our production facilities represent a core pillar of our long-term business strategy and our vision for the future.

"This investment is about building a business that is forward-looking and resilient.

"By strengthening our infrastructure now, we are ensuring that Bayne’s is positioned for sustainable, long-term growth, allowing us to double our footprint across Scotland over the coming years.

"Crucially, this expansion will create significant new employment opportunities within the communities we serve.

"As we grow our retail presence and enhance our production capabilities, we are committed to investing in our people and providing stable, local jobs."