THE acquisition of a large warehouse building by a Bradford food manufacturer is set to create several new jobs.

Regal Food Products Group has bought the former Folding Sliding Door (FSD) Company works on Hopbine Lane in West Bowling. 

The 45,000 sq ft warehouse building was marketed and sold by property consultancy Eddisons, which is currently working with FSD to secure a new Bradford production site for the business. 

Eddisons' associate director Matt Jennings said: “We were really pleased to be able to secure a rapid sale for FSD on their Hopbine Lane site.

“The freehold industrial market is increasingly robust due to an ongoing lack of supply and there is definitely healthy demand out there for sizeable warehouse space.”

Regal Foods Products specialises in world food bakery and confectionery products and owns brands including Yorkshire Baking Company and Just Desserts Yorkshire.

Mr Jennings added: “It is great to see Regal Food Products, another great Bradford company, step in to take this large unit to accommodate the firm’s growth and it’s a really positive sign that Bradford’s economy is doing well.”

Employing more than 300 people and generating a £32 million turnover, Regal Food Products has made a series of acquisitions, the most recent of which was Leeds cake manufacturer Love Handmade Cakes.

The firm currently operates from six sites across Bradford.

Regal Foods CEO Younis Chaudhry said: “Following our latest acquisition earlier this year, we are really pleased to be bringing this new facility into the Regal group.

“The new addition promises to not only boost operations but play a key part in the development and growth of our business.”

He added: “As a company that has the Bradford community close to its heart, the new warehouse facility will create several new jobs, boosting employment in a range of areas of the business.”

Yorkshire-based cake manufacturer Love Handmade Cakes was acquired by Regal for an undisclosed sum in January this year. 

At the time, Mr Chaudhry said: "Long-term growth through acquisition is integral to the group and our family of brands, putting us in a position where we can offer our customers a solid mix of quality bakery products for both food service and retail.

"We pride ourselves on quality and, with appetites growing rapidly for our dessert ranges, we are excited to be moving into the next chapter with Love Handmade Cakes."

The acquisition came just 24 months after the Regal group snapped up premium desserts manufacturer, Just Desserts Yorkshire.