One of Scotland’s leading hospitality groups, Buzzworks, has launched a major recruitment drive in Edinburgh as it prepares to open its fourth Herringbone venue in the east of Scotland. Last month, the leading hospitality operator revealed plans to expand the popular bar and restaurant concept to the Barnton area this spring, following on from the success of its sister venues already operating in Abbeyhill, Goldenacre and North Berwick. The group – which has been named one of the best companies to work for in the UK – is on the lookout for talented individuals to join the team, including front-of-house, kitchen operations and senior chefs. The venue will be hosting Recruitment Open Days for a range of roles on Thursday 20, Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 March 2025, from 12pm – 6pm at Herringbone Goldenacre. Anyone interested in a role at the venue can pop in at their leisure to find out more, with no prior booking necessary. Ash Bairstow, operations director at Herringbone, said: “This is an incredibly exciting time for us as we prepare to launch our latest addition to the Herringbone family. We’re all about providing our guests will warm hospitality and seasonally inspired food in a cool, contemporary surrounding, and we can’t wait to meet people who are excited about a career in hospitality to explore the roles we have on offer." “As well as a whole host of full and part time front-of-house and mid to senior management level positions, we also have a range of exciting opportunities in our kitchen, from entry level to senior roles." “We would especially urge any talented chefs with a passion for cooking to come along to our open day and learn more about a career with Herringbone and Buzzworks." “We hope our recruitment events will give anyone who is interested in working at Herringbone a chance to learn more about the roles on offer while providing them a taste of what life at Buzzworks is like. We can’t wait to meet all the potential candidates.” Buzzworks is renowned for its commitment to its people, offering industry-leading training initiatives including Leadership Development and Management Acceleration Programmes. Known for its supportive and rewarding work environment, Buzzworks offers competitive rates of pay, flexible working options and a range of benefits, including TRONC – a common fund into which tips and service charges are paid for distribution to the staff.

The four farmer founders of The Green Farm Collective (TGFC) have teamed up with Eurostar Commodities to develop a line of flours produced using regenerative farming practices. RISE RE:GEN Flour has the strapline Farmed with Nature and its launch underpins the intent of TGFC, to encourage the food industry to value sustainable farming both financially and ethically. The farmers behind TGFC, Jake Freestone, Angus Gowthorpe, Michael Kavanagh and Tim Parton, formed the regenerative farming community four years ago to support other growers in their regenerative practices, promising to create new and lucrative end markets for TGFC members. Jake Freestone commented: “The Eurostar team has embraced the importance of the farming approach that our members practice centred around soil health, reduced environmental impact and improving farmland biodiversity." “They also recognise that the way we farm should be rewarded and we couldn’t have asked for more. They have developed an exclusive partnership and a bespoke brand of TGFC flours which they sell to their influential customers for pizza, bread and other wheat-based foods, and also pay us a fair and reflective price for our crops. It really is a true and respectful partnership and one that demonstrates Eurostar’s progressive leadership in the food supply chain.” Eurostar Commodities is a family-run importer and supplier of ingredients to manufacturers, wholesalers, foodservice, retailers, and consumers across the UK, Ireland, northern Europe, the Middle East, and Iceland. The launch of the RISE range fits a growing interest from their customers for environmentally conscious ingredients. Diane Crabtree, Sales Manager at Eurostar commented: “The market for regeneratively farmed flours is growing because consumer demand is growing, so it is a proud moment for our business to partner on such an important range." The flour is sold in 16kg paper sacks as Strong or All Purpose Flour. As yet, a standard for Regenerative Farming hasn’t yet been created, however, TGFC recognised the importance ensuring verification of both the farmer and their practices. Jake adds: “We have teamed up with Food Integrity Assurance, an audit body, to establish under our own set of standards, including carbon and environmental baselining, diversity in crop rotations, farmland biodiversity policies, a nutrient management plan and minimal soil disturbance practices. We also have a partnership with Trinity Agtech’s Sandy software to record and report on members’ farming interventions to give full transparency to our farming methods.” "Beyond the standards and the new flour range, Jake says that TGFC is having an important impact, “our farmer members from around the UK and Europe are at different stages of their regenerative journeys and our community is one that shares and supports to give advice. Collectively we are creating a credible, traceable and fully audited set of practices which gives confidence to partners like Eurostar as well as their all-important customer base.” The Green Farm Collective won the 2023 BBC Food and Farming Awards Farming for the Future category with Farming Today and The Archers. Top Photo: (L to R): Tim Parton, Michael Kavanagh, Angus Gowthorpe, Jake Freestone

A family-owned Hampshire farm has partnered with Greening Shedfield Parish to host a ‘Seed, Seedling, and Plant Swap’ - a community-driven event aimed at encouraging sustainable gardening and biodiversity. Westlands Farm Shop in the heart of the Meon Valley recently hosted the free-to-attend event for all ages in support of the Greening Campaign by Shedfield Parish. The Greening Campaign aims to bring communities together through a program of 'Engagement' to give Hampshire residents a voice in how they tackle climate change. Event attendees were able to bring excess seeds and plants from their own gardens and trade them for new varieties, helping to reduce waste, increase plant diversity, and promote self-sufficient gardening. Other Greening Campaign activities across Hampshire include tree planting in Waltham Chase and creating pollinator-friendly patches in Bishopstoke. Chris Parker from the Greening Campaign said: “We're thrilled to partner with Westlands Farm Shop for this event. Community-driven initiatives like this are vital in empowering residents to make sustainable choices and protect our local environment and build community.” Kayleigh Collett runs Westlands Farm Shop with her husband, Graham. She said: "Encouraging local people to grow their own food and plants is not just great for the environment, but also builds a stronger, greener community." "Attendees were encouraged to bring what they could and take what they needed. We’re proud to support this initiative and look forward to hosting similar events in the future." "We had a great morning with around 25 attendees across the two hours, including families."

Bagnalls, based in Cleckheaton celebrates 150 years as a family run and managed business on March 13th, 2025. Originally established in 1875 by Alfred Bagnall, the company is now managed by fifth generation and great, great grandson Stephen Bagnall. Stephen describes the landmark event in the company’s history, “Today, we celebrate 150 years since Alfred Bagnall, my great, great-grandfather founded the company." “Alfred’s original vision and determination has seen the company transform from its humble beginnings in Shipley in 1875 to now being the UK’s leading specialist painting and decorating firms, still with its roots firmly in Yorkshire." “As I reflect on the company’s heritage, I can’t help but wonder, what Alfred would make of Bagnalls today? Would he have imagined that the business he built with such care, dedication and skill would still be thriving 150 years later, now led by the fifth generation, with the sixth generation already making their mark? I somehow doubt it." “His world was one of horse-drawn carts and handwritten accounts, yet, at its core, Bagnalls remains what it has always been, a family business built on values, craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to its people and customers.” Bagnalls has a wealth of experience in the painting and decorating industry and includes landmark projects such as the original Wembley Stadium painted in the 1920s and a new pharmaceutical plant for Boots in Beeston, in the 1930s, when Bagnalls first used a new paint product called Dulux. More recent projects from the 1990s onwards include the Alhambra Theatre and Salt’s Mill in Bradford, where world famous artist David Hockney donned a Bagnalls’ bib and brace. Bagnalls are proud to name amongst their customers household names including, JCB, Oxfam, Jaguar Landrover, Cadent Gas and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Now, celebrating the company’s 150th anniversary, Bagnalls has grown from a small painting contractor into a national leader in their industry, evolving with economic shifts and industry trends whilst maintaining core values of safety, integrity, respect and people. This journey of expansion, strategic adaptation, and commitment to training and development has positioned Bagnalls as the premier specialist painting and decorating company in the UK. Stephen adds “We were recently named Employer of the Year at the 2025, Yorkshire Business awards, a true testament to the people who have helped make the business what it is today. I remain committed to safety, quality and long-term family ownership and focused on ensuring the company’s legacy for future generations.” As Paul Andrews, Founder and CEO of Family Business United adds, "Bagnalls are celebrating a wonderful anniversary, a milestone to be truly proud of. This is an incredible story of a family firm that continues to achieve great things too. They took home three titles at the most recent Family Business of the Year Awards, including the crown as Supreme Champion Family Business of the Year 2024 which they currently hold as they celebrate their anniversary." "Bagnalls are without exception, a shining example of a great British family business with all the positive attributes in place. Proud of their heritage, committed to their values and their people with family members leading by example, not to mention the quality of their craftsmanship," "We wish them continued success as they look forward to the next 150 years too."

An independent Shetland knitting, yarn and haberdashery shop has seen its turnover more than double after accessing support from Business Gateway. Local retailer, Loose Ends, is a mainstay on Lerwick’s Commercial Street, serving Shetland’s textile makers, creative industries and recreational crafters alike. The business, which prides itself on getting the best craft supplies and equipment quickly and at affordable prices, sells everything from fabric to knitting patterns, wool, wool accessories, quilting fabric, haberdashery and Shetland gifts crafted by independent local makers. The team are dedicated to supporting the crafting community, collaborating with small independent local farms to source single-origin wools, partnering with local makers, and offering extended opening hours to accommodate those with busy schedules. Co-owner, Dee Henderson-Haefner, had worked in the store for 5 years under its previous owner. Looking to take over the business with her son Daniel Hanstrom, Dee reached out to Business Gateway in 2023 to support with business planning and financial forecasting that helped her to access essential funding. Local Business Gateway adviser, Jeff Gaskell, supported Dee and Daniel throughout their business journey, providing expert one-to-one support across business planning and company regulations. Jeff also signposted the duo to funding opportunities and fully funded specialist marketing support from consultants at Tuminds, a dedicated digital marketing training provider. Since taking over Loose Ends, Dee and Daniel have completely revamped the business, using Dee’s industry knowledge and contacts to craft a lasting connection with customers and establish a strong foundation for growth. Loose Ends has seen turnover more than double since accessing Business Gateway support, enabling the business to take on its first employee and refurbish its storefront. Dee Henderson-Haefner, co-owner, Loose Ends, said: “Business Gateway’s support has been instrumental in helping us secure the funding to take on the business and establish a strong foundation for our revamp." “Jeff has always been on hand to offer guidance and has been an invaluable resource for connecting us with the wider support network available that we wouldn’t have known about otherwise.” Jeff Gaskell, Business Gateway adviser said: “Dee and Daniel’s passion to revamp Loose Ends and bring it back to the heart of the community has been inspiring. It's great to see the strong community response to their hard work and I’m delighted we have been able to support their growth.”

A Portsmouth IT company has partnered with a Meon Valley farm shop as it kickstarts its expansion across Hampshire. Tektraders Ltd, based in the heart of Portsmouth, has supported Westlands Farm Shop in Wickham to deliver the latest tech to help oversee its new second store in Winchester. As part of the partnership, Tektraders has supplied four state-of-the-art PCs and three monitors to speed up the farm shop’s back-office operations as the business grows. Tektraders Ltd Managing Director Rob Hepworth said, he was thrilled to see Westlands growing, having worked with the family-owned business since its earliest days. “The very first piece of equipment I sold to Westlands was a tiny gadget used to rewind its roll of stickers for its famous strawberries." “It’s a pleasure to see how far the farm shop has come and to witness the opportunities to integrate IT into its day-to-day operations." “We supply to a variety of organisations that are often keen to improve what they do. I love helping businesses sharpen up their tech portfolios as they start hitting their business growth goals." Kayleigh Collet of Westlands Farm Shop said: “It’s been an extremely busy year for us so far. We have recently opened our second store in Winchester, and we’re gearing up for our strawberry season. Our recent IT upgrade will help us keep our shelves fully stocked, manage finances and admin and help us oversee two stores at the same time.” Based in the heart of Portsmouth, Tektraders Ltd is an independent IT company which supplies tech to offices, schools and businesses.

Hendy Foundation, the independent charity affiliated with leading car dealer business Hendy Group, has confirmed its latest round of funding commitments for local charities across the south coast of England. The latest phase of donations includes The Sampson Centre for MS in Surrey. This takes Hendy Foundation’s charitable commitments in 2024 to over £50,000, benefitting 26 different charities. ● The charitable Hendy Foundation linked to leading motor retailer, Hendy Group, donated £50,000 to organisations across the south coast in 2024 ● The Sampson Centre for MS is a recipient of a new grant ● Over 200 small charities have now been backed with vital funds since Hendy Foundation was created In its latest funding round, Hendy Foundation has selected eleven small charities to support across six counties. These include: The Sampson Centre for MS (Surrey) Mid Kent Community Radio (Kent) Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services DAVSS (Kent) Life Education Wessex (Dorset) Bournemouth Food Bank (Dorset) Dorset Mind (Dorset) Wild and Free Therapy (Dorset) Aldermoor Community Farm (Hampshire) PEDALL Inclusive Cycling (Hampshire) City Gate Community (East Sussex) Estuary League of Friends (Devon) Hendy Foundation has chosen to support the Sampson Centre in this latest round of funding. They currently support 250 registered disabled people who live with Multiple Sclerosis, providing oxygen therapy, physiotherapy, exercise and advice to help relieve and minimise their symptoms. Hendy Foundation helped the charity with funds to pay for one month's supply of oxygen therapy. Since its launch, Hendy Foundation has granted over £350,000 to more than 200 charities in communities that are local to Hendy Group’s car dealerships across Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex, Surrey and Kent. On average, Hendy Foundation receives between 50 and 100 applications for each funding round, which typically occur two to three times per year. A panel of volunteer trustees carry out a detailed due diligence process to determine which are most eligible to receive support. Some of the charities previously supported by Hendy include: · Dyscover, Surrey: Hendy Foundation donated to this specialist charity, which supports people with aphasia, a speech and language disorder which is acquired following a brain trauma. The grant has enabled the charity to buy new laptops for specialist staff. · Jigsaw South East, Surrey: Hendy Foundation has supported this charity twice since 2019, first in 2021 when providing support for bereaved children and young people who have suffered a bereavement of a loved one and the second in 2024 with a grant specifically for family bereavement groups. Launched in 2019, Hendy Foundation is a dedicated charity that provides grants to local charitable projects, people and charitable organisations. The family-run Hendy Group’s commitment to supporting local communities goes back generations, and the Hendy Foundation continues to explore exciting new ways to strengthen and improve upon these links. About Hendy Foundation Hendy Foundation is an independent charity affiliated with the family-run automotive dealer group Hendy Group, established in 2019. Run by a number of trustees, Hendy Foundation supports small, local charities that fall within the footprint of Hendy Group across the South Coast. About Hendy Group Hendy Group is a family-run automotive dealer group, established in 1859 and celebrating 165 years of operation in 2024. With fifth generation family member, Paul Hendy, currently CEO, the business now employs over 1,700 colleagues. In 2024, the Group is ranked 18th in the AM Top 100, with a 2023 turnover of just over £1bn. The Group proudly represents 22 automotive brands across the South Coast and is committed to providing world-class customer service at all of their dealerships.

In this article, we take a look at intellectual property rights and, in particular, how they can be best be utilised for business growth and protection in the context of farms and rural business. What Is Intellectual Property? Intellectual property, or IP, is a general term which describes intangible assets. All businesses have IP, regardless of what sector a business is operating within, and examples of IP include copyright, trade marks, patents, design rights and many more. These assets, although not physical, add value to a business and help them to achieve their goals. Having a clear plan for how to deal with IP is essential, and many businesses fail to take advantage of the tools in the IP toolkit until it is too late. There is a tendency for businesses to dismiss IP, or not engage with it, because they think it's more about creating opportunities for litigation. However, the key is to look at it through the lens of how intellectual property can add value and instead consider IP as an asset which can be used to generate revenue for your business. The farming and rural sector is currently undergoing huge changes and, as a result, it is expected that more farms and rural businesses will inevitably look to diversify. When it comes to diversification, for most businesses the key intellectual property is going to be brand, which in legal terms we refer to as trademark and copyright. Brand is a way of protecting the farm name, the names of products that you produce and the names of services that you generate. It's the way in which the law creates a monopoly in a brand, a name, a logo or a get up. How Can Farming Businesses Make The Most Of Their Brand? Farms and rural businesses may be failing to make the most of the opportunities that they have to capitalise on the narrative of their products. Non-farming businesses are looking to increase sales by using imagery and text to create an impression that their products have a rural provenance or originate from a family business, a practice known as "Farmwashing." Despite this, many rural businesses which do have this genuine background, are not taking advantage of this opportunity in their branding and marketing. Often farming and rural businesses fail to take control over their brand because they do not register their trade marks (e.g. product and farm names). Businesses should be looking at how their brands can add value to the work they do and step one in this process is to take ownership of their brands through trade mark registration. Trade Marks Trade mark registrations are a way in which businesses can take ownership of their reputation and of the brands that they are using. By obtaining trade mark registrations, businesses can create assets which can add value to their business. Businesses focus on developing their reputation every day they trade. Whether it is goods, such as the products that they are putting onto store shelves, the services that they offer, such as holiday lettings on their rural property, or simply the distinctive name of the farm itself. For many businesses that reputation will be one of, if not their most, valuable assets. Trademarks are the way the law says we can ring fence that, we can identify what that reputation is and we can package it up into an asset which you as a business can do things with. Historically, the farming sector gave rise to some of the earliest trad marks and initiated the development of much of the trade mark law we still see today. Early trade marks involved branding cattle, with the brands designed to protect the consumer just as much as they were intended to protect a business, they would educate the purchaser of the quality of the livestock and provide reassurance as to how it had been cared for and reared. As a result of the brand, a buyer would understand the quality of what they were buying. Brands still serve this function today, operating not just as a marketing tool, but also as a form of quality assurance. However, despite this long history, and that some of the most well-known, and hence valuable, brand identities on our supermarket shelves are farming brands, it is something that is considerably underutilised in this sector. By not taking control over their brands, farming businesses are missing out. In a time when farmers are struggling financially and consumers are increasingly valuing local produce, it essential that farming businesses develop and protect their brand identities, by way of trade mark registration, to make the most of their unique place in the market. Copyright Copyright also has a part to play and can protect written communications, websites, or even software code. Copyright doesn't protect ideas, but it protects the way that you manifest and express those ideas. For example, where a rural business has diversified to provide holiday lets via a website, copyright might exist not only in the website design itself, but also in the software code behind the booking systems created. A key thing with copyright is being aware that it's there. It runs through so much and it has a value. However, rural businesses must also understand that when they engage with third parties, issues around the ownership of any copyright generated can arise. It is therefore essential that rural and farming businesses explore their connections with any third parties, whether they be marketing companies, packaging designers, website designers or whoever it may be, to make sure that it is clear where the ownership of the asset ultimately sits. When Should Farm Businesses Consider Protecting Their IP? Generally, businesses across all sectors engage with IP a little late in the day, often in reaction to something that's happened, rather than proactively. However, in order to effectively protect these important assets, it is essential that farms and rural businesses engage positively and proactively with the IP system. There are many triggers that would have a business in this sector engage with intellectual property, in particular: New Service Lines - Businesses who are, for example, diversifying into things like holiday lets or providing a wedding venue are starting to create brands to take to market. Those businesses will need to consider the IP in that brand and register those brands accordingly. New Product Lines - Businesses engaging in new product lines, such as product development for food and drink products, will also be producing brands that they need to protect. However, they should also consider copyright, for example in relation to the recipes that they have painstakingly developed. Generation Change - We also often see the need for consideration of IP when there's a generational change across farming businesses and there is a different focus moving forward on brand, reputation and where that can be generating value. As part of any review of the assets of a business, it is important to also understand the intangible IP assets that are there and that could be used to generate value. Three key IP takeaways for farming and rural businesses Identify the brands that you are using and register those brands as trade marks Don't assume, because of trading history or because of household brand name status, that everything is in hand from a branding point of view. Check the brands that you are using and register them accordingly. As discussed, consumers value the association with a rural setting. Consider taking advantage of this value, by using clever branding and trade mark registration, to ensure consumers associate your products and services with the rural setting that they originate from. Be proactive Don't wait until the wheels have come off, take ownership of these assets upfront. Consider, not just your registrations, but also about where you collaborate with third parties as ownership issues may exist. Shift your perspective Don't consider IP as a cost. Don't consider IP just as a tool for litigation. Think about IP as a value-add to your business. Ideally, you want to be taking the plan for the business and creating an IP strategy which accurately dovetails with that. Taking control of your brand is crucial to maximising revenue in your business and trademarks and IP are very much about creating a legal asset in your brand. About the Author - Robert Davies is a Managing Associate at Foot Anstey LLP and there Intellectual Property experts are available to support you in your journey and assist you in taking control from a legal point of view. Please get in touch via their website here to find out more.

Pride Park based NK Motors has reported a surge in sales since completing a £1m showroom refurbishment on the eve of its 20th anniversary in Derby. The Kia dealership, in Orient Way, has this week seen its 35,000th car driven off the forecourt since moving to its Pride Park home in April 2005. NK Motors, which also sells around 200 used cars every month from Pride Park and its other base in Chilwell, saw its sales of Kia cars from the Derby branch exceeded the 2,500 mark last year despite work being carried out on the revamp.  The project took 12 months to complete and included the addition of six new upper-floor offices, a double mezzanine space upstairs and a make-over of its large showroom. As a result of the business’s increasing success, it is hoping to ramp up £100m in turnover this year compared with the already impressive £80m achieved in 2024. Group managing director Sanj Kumar puts the success down to the increasing popularity of Kia’s new model range and great choice of electric vehicles combined with his firm’s constant commitment to improving services for customers.  “Kia cars have come a very long way since the early days, and customers love the quality, the high basic specification and the seven-year warranties that the manufacturer provides,” said Sanj. "But NK Motors’ success is also about how we treat our customers and the fantastic environment we provide for them at our Derby showroom." “As an official Kia franchise dealership, we have certain standards and guidelines that we must meet in terms of our showroom, branding and presentation. But with this latest refurbishment, we have gone above and beyond what we are required to do." “It’s an amazing space, and we’re extremely happy with the result – not least the car sales results which seem to have coincided with the completion of refurbishment work at the end of last year.” NK Motors Group also includes a car dealership in Eldon Road Business Park, Chilwell, Nottingham, very close to where Sanj’s dad, Nindy Kumar, launched the original business in 1981. The Eldon Road branch also sells a combination of used cars and new Kia vehicles. In those days, Mr Kumar senior launched his business as a car mechanic and MOT centre before expanding into used car sales. But it was Nindy’s foresight in striking a deal in 1999 to buy a batch of 150 Kia cars that truly launched the business and built its ongoing relationship with the South Korean car manufacturer. Sanj joined his dad’s business as a teenager in 1998, working in various roles, from vehicle technician to sales executive, in Chilwell before the milestone move to Pride Park in 2005. Nindy continues to play an active role in the family business. The NK Group now employs 120 staff across all businesses, while NK Motors has doubled its turnover in the last 10 years and is now forecasting another major leap in sales to £100m by the end of this year. The firm, which continues to offer Kia-approved workshop and servicing facilities on site, currently has over 600 cars in stock. The wider NK group also includes an inhouse construction team, a horse livery, a large commercial property portfolio and the hugely popular Nicco restaurant and bar, also in Pride Park. “We’ve come a very long way as a business since dad opened his garage in 1981,” said Sanj. “But thanks to a bit of luck, some shrewd business decisions and an awful lot of hard work, we’re still growing strong and have even bigger plans for the future.”

GAP Hire Solutions, the UK’s largest independent hire company, is proud to announce a five-year partnership with WaterAid to help deliver clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to communities in need worldwide. As part of this collaboration, GAP will work alongside water utility companies to help WaterAid address the global water crisis, ensuring more people gain access to these essential services. GAP will contribute funding through its GAP Giving charity initiative to support vital water infrastructure in underserved areas. Mark Anderson, Managing Director – Pumps, Power and Environmental Services, commented, “We are proud to partner with WaterAid and contribute to their incredible work. Access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right, and we look forward to making a real difference through this initiative.” Beyond financial support, GAP is encouraging its employees to get involved in supporting WaterAid through fundraising initiatives and volunteering efforts. Together, GAP and WaterAid aim to create a lasting impact on communities in need. Photo credit: WaterAid / Sophie Harris-Taylor

Bayne’s The Family Bakers proudly celebrates its 70th shop opening at Perth’s Inveralmond Retail Park. This significant milestone coincides with this much-loved Scottish bakery’s 70th anniversary and ongoing expansion, marking seven decades of growth, innovation, and deep-rooted community connections since Bayne’s was founded in 1954. From a single bakery in Lochore, Fife, Bayne’s has flourished into a beloved Scottish institution, renowned for its quality baking and strong local connections. The company operates 70 shops across Scotland, with plans for continued expansion and further investment in the coming year. Over the past 70 years, Bayne’s has evolved from a traditional home bakery into a leading player in the bakery food to go market. Driven by changing consumer preferences, the business has embraced convenience focused offerings, premium coffee, and home delivery services, positioning itself at the forefront of Scotland’s modern retail landscape. Reflecting on the company’s growth, Bayne’s Joint Managing Director, John Bayne said: “A decade ago, we had 490 colleagues supporting 52 shops. Today, we’ve nearly doubled our workforce to 960, ensuring we continue to bring fresh, quality baking to communities across Scotland. Looking ahead, we plan to open three to four new shops annually over the next decade while continuing to invest in product innovation and digital transformation to meet evolving customer needs.” Bayne’s has grown strategically, expanding beyond Fife in 1975 to Perthshire with a shop in Kinross then steadily increasing its presence throughout Scotland. In the late 1990s to early 2000s Bayne’s saw further growth into Perth, Dundee, and Monifieth, followed by the opening of its first retail park ‘food to go’ shop in Stirling in 2006. Bayne’s entered the Edinburgh market in 2012 and expanded into Glasgow in 2018. In 2021, the company launched its first drive-thru in Hillington. Most recently, in 2023, Bayne’s completed a freezer extension at its bakery, further enhancing production capacity to meet growing demand. John Bayne added: “At Bayne’s, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it’s through our popular coffee card reward program, which offers a free coffee for every eight purchased, or our ‘Moments of Joy’ initiative, which empowers staff to provide complimentary treats for special occasions, we are committed to delivering exceptional experiences.” Stanley Bayne, Chairman of Bayne’s, added: "Seventy shops in our 70th year - it's a milestone that fills me with immense pride. My father, John, would be incredibly proud to see how far we've come; from opening our first shop in 1954 to opening our 70th shop today. Our success is a tribute to the generations of colleagues and bakers who have kept our ovens warm and our customers smiling. This new Perth shop is a symbol of our enduring commitment to Scottish baking traditions and the communities we serve." Bayne’s the Family Bakers is committed to product innovation and enhancing its bakery and drinks range to meet evolving consumer tastes. The company is also investing in digital transformation, improving online ordering and home delivery services to meet growing demand for convenience.

Lower carbon parsnips are now available at select M&S Foodhalls across the country, grown autonomously in a trial funded by the M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund, which is available for innovation projects to enable rapid action towards net zero. Working with a long-term, family owned root vegetable supplier, Huntapac, the project involved using the latest farming technology and scientific methods to farm with a significantly lower environmental impact. The technology included two robots for bed forming, planting and weeding, two different types of drone to monitor and maintain crop health, and the latest scientific testing on soil health and carbon impact. Much like when agriculture moved from horse and plough to mechanical tractors, these latest technologies offer a future of farming that will aid farmers, create more highly skilled jobs in the industry and attract new talent. The team also farmed while taking care to minimise disruption to the soil, helping to keep carbon locked away, and used a green fertiliser. These combined with the new tech, which has much lower carbon emissions compared to a traditional tractor, has demonstrated a carbon reduction of 47% in the growing phase, compared to standard methods. On top of the carbon impact, there have been other benefits including a high quality of vegetables. AI was used to monitor and improve crop health and autonomous technology can reduce weather impact. For example, last year, following extremely wet weather the team were able to get in and plant the field with the autonomous robot which wouldn’t have been possible with a traditional tractor. The expectation is that this trial field will have 72% of picked parsnips at grade one which is a strong result versus other fields. The field also included various measures from M&S’ Farming with Nature programme to improve biodiversity of both wildlife and the soil, including agrisound boxes and wildflower borders. AgriSound technology monitors pollinator numbers with specialist listening devices situated on farm. Through the trial, AgriSound found that there was more pollinator activity in the trial field compared to the standard field, demonstrating another environmental benefit to farming this way. The parsnips were grown in Yorkshire and are now available in selected M&S stores for approximately a week. The trial was the first M&S Food project to be funded by the M&S Plan A Net Zero accelerator fund, which the retailer launched to find innovation projects to enable rapid action towards net zero to meet its Plan A goal of being a Net Zero business across its entire supply chain by 2040. Andrew Clappen, Technical Director at M&S Food, said: “The Plan A Accelerator Fund was designed to move us towards being a Net Zero business across our entire supply chain by 2040, by tapping into the entrepreneurial spirit of our suppliers. Partnership is going to be the key to achieving this goal and at M&S our unique model of own brand, long term supplier relationships is how we deliver the quality and trust our customers expect from us." “It’s fantastic to see not only a carbon reduction of almost 50% from our trial with Huntapac, but a high proportion of the incredible quality of produce that M&S is famous for. The trial has also been really well received by the industry, with knowledge sharing sessions held to demonstrate the new technologies as if widely adopted, this would create more highly skilled jobs and attract new talent into the sector, which in turn would drive more innovation around finding new lower impact farming methods to reduce carbon emissions.” Stephen Shields, Technical & Sustainability Director at Huntapac, said: “This project was only possible due to the M&S Plan A Accelerator Fund and our 40 year relationship. The opportunity to trial something which has such potential for our business and the industry is testament to the drive and appetite for innovation which is central to M&S Food." "The success of this project has led to us explore the potential of purchasing our own robot so that we can farm more vegetables this way next season and in the future. We’re working to upskill our team and sharing our learnings with the wider industry as we believe this is the future of farming.”