A FAMILY-run bakery business in Northumberland has opened its third shop in Morpeth and hopes to establish further sites in the future.

Ex-supermarket bakery manager Keith Glenton opened his first Glenton’s Bakery shop in Newbiggin by the Sea in 2006 and now has a workforce of 22 spread between the original home bakery, a shop in Ashington and a new site on Morpeth’s Newgate Street.

The family business is now hoping to add more sites in the long term, once it establishes itself in Morpeth, and said that its range of freshly made breads made with fermented dough was attracting customers looking for a more home-made taste.

The business has benefited from Local Enterprise Growth Initiative funding during its early stages and has also received support and advice from Go Wansbeck.

Since launching the business, Glenton has been joined by son Martin, wife Janet and daughter Melanie, who help run the shops and make the bread. He said: “Everything we bake is made from natural ingredients and it’s all made locally at our Ashington unit.

“We’ve even started making figures from bread called Gadgies that are proving very popular with our customers. Most of the pressure to expand the business is coming from my daughter, Melanie. However, it is important that we establish our shop in Morpeth.”

Go Wansbeck business coach Karl McCracken said: “Keith has taken a great leap of faith opening his third bakery. Without any grants available, he had to be certain that it would work. So we put a lot of effort in to understand the expanded business’ finances, and making sure it launched with increased sales from day one.”