BOLTON bakers Warburtons had an official opening ceremony for the company's £10 million bakery site in Scotland.

It marked another major milestone for the family business founded in 1876.

Warburtons launched its operation over the border in a leased depot in East Kilbride in September 1995.

After an aggressive marketing campaign it was selling 100,000 bread and morning goods products a week by January 1996. In April last year the company announced that it was building a new purpose-built bakery in Bellshill, just outside Glasgow.

Staff moved in last November and Warburtons baked its first Scottish bread in January this year.

About 150 people are currently employed at the Bellshill bakery, which distributes to more than 1,000 stores throughout central Scotland.

Warburton family members were out in force for opening celebrations which included the launch of a link with Scotland's leading children's charity, Children 1st.

The company released 5,000 ballons from a giant Warburtons loaf.

They all have a return tag which is worth £1 to the charity.

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