Bakery ingredients group Bako has acquired regional co-operative supplier Bako Western for an undisclosed sum after a vote by the latter’s members.
It is the latest step in the expansion of Bako Group’s operations across the UK, following the merger of its three regional trading divisions in Preston, Durham and Wimbledon, and the acquisition of Finlay’s Food in Northern Ireland last year.
Founded in 1961, southwest-based Bako Western supplies regional customers in the bakery and foodservice sector with bakery ingredients, finished goods and catering products.
Bako Group has operations across the UK, serving more than 6,500 customers, and is owned by its 700 baker shareholders.
While the two companies have shared a brand since an agreement made in the 1960s, they have traded independently until now.
“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,” said Bako Group CEO Mike Tully.
“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 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.”
Following the acquisition, Bako Group will operate a multi-temperature fleet of more than 100 vehicles from depots in Cullompton, Durham, Preston and Wimbledon, as well as Finlay’s Food in Belfast. It employs 440 staff across all five sites and generated £234m in revenues in the year ended 31 March 2025.
“Our vision is to combine the strengths of the two organisations to create an even stronger business, led by bakers for bakers,” Tully added.
“Bako Western’s excellent reputation for exceptional service in the southwest, together with our shared baker-centric ethos, made this a natural fit for expansion into the region. Working collaboratively, we believe we can accelerate growth, strengthen our customer offering and ultimately enhance value for all stakeholders involved.”
Corporate finance house Oghma Partners acted as financial advisor to Bako on the deal. It was Oghma’s sixth transaction of 2025.
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