East Midlands bakery Luke Evans has invested £75,000 in new equipment, which will allow it to produce up to 9,000 bread rolls an hour.

The new machine gives the Derbyshire family-run bakery an extra 50% capacity for roll-making and has been purchased in response to increased demand.

Amber Valley MP Nigel Mills recently toured the bakery in Riddings, near Alfreton. Managing director David Yates said: “It gave us the chance to highlight our latest investment – an Oddy Novatek roll plant, which has replaced the Original Oddy we first purchased 22 years ago.

“The machines, manufactured just outside Leeds, are known in the industry for their incredible strength and durability, and even though it’s 22 years old, I have had numerous customers trying to buy my retired machine.”

He added that the provenance of the machine is important: “I’m pleased to be able to buy British, as there is very little bakery machinery still manufactured in the UK.”

Luke Evans sells direct to the public from its shop in Riddings, as well as supplying around 300 trade and wholesale customers across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, including shops, cafés, schools, and delis.