Underlying profits at Abel & Cole, Belazu and Jacksons Bakery owner William Jackson Food Group have fallen 39.4%, after its Wellocks foodservice business was hit by a slump in sales.
Despite “good growth” in the group’s retail, DTC, export and wholesale offerings, overall sales at William Jackson fell 1.5% to £332.1m in the past financial year, as Wellocks’ difficulties and a refurbishment at Jacksons cut revenues.
EBITDA fell to £9.7m, down from £16m in 2024, and the group fell to a pre-tax loss of £4.6m in the year to 26 April 2025.
“It was a challenging year for the group, with our Wellocks business having a particularly difficult year due to a challenging foodservice market together with significant disruption as a result of an ERP launch in March 2024,” said a statement provided within the accounts by chairwoman and sixth-generation Jackson Sonya Eastaugh.
“We have much to be proud of and with people at the heart of everything we do. It fills us with an enormous sense of pride to have been recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list for the second year running.”
The accounts highlighted double-digit growth at the group’s premium mediterranean ingredients brand Belazu, which enjoyed new and expanded retailer listings and its M&S launch in the year.
New product development for the brand included shakshuka and chargrilled pepper pastes, together with miso stock pots under its Miso Tasty brand, and new rapeseed and olive oils.
Despite supply disruption in Q1 from the refurbishment of one of its Hull bread plants, Jacksons claimed credit as “one of the fastest-growing plant bread brands in the market”, with its Tiger bloomer seeing “great success” in its first year in the market.
Bakery subsidiary Lottie Shaw’s, acquired in April 2024, alone contributed 1% to group sales growth thanks to expanding product lines, now including shortbread, hot cross tarts, and Yorkshire parkin Easter eggs.
Since financial year end, William Jackson has taken on new CEO Paul Murphy from Associated British Foods, where he spent 22 years.
“After navigating a challenging year, we look ahead to the next chapter – with a new CEO in place – excited to build on our strong foundations, with a relentless focus on quality, innovation, and customer experience,” said Eastaugh.
No comments yet