Mortons Rolls returns to production after iconic Glasgow bakery rescued

Production restarted at Mortons Rolls on Sunday after the much-loved bakery was saved from closure.

Around 110 workers, around half of which were previously employed at Mortons before the company ran into difficulty, were called back to the factory in Glasgow’s Drumchapel area.

Investors PVL, who are being represented by John McIlvogue have now taken ownership and control of the company’s assets after negotiations with HMRC, administrators and the Scottish Government were entered.

The business ceased production on March 3 citing challenges from the Covid pandemic, the rise in energy prices and contractual obligations with large supermarkets.

Hundreds of workers were handed redundancy notices last week after a provisional liquidator was appointed.

Established in 1965, Mortons Rolls became a much-loved breakfast staple across Glasgow and the west of Scotland.

Last week, Mr McIlvogue said that PVL is confident that they will be able to turn the company’s fortunes around.

Mr McIlvogue said: “This is a bittersweet moment for me, for the people who work here and for the wider community that relies on the jobs this factory provides.

“None of us wanted the past couple of weeks to unfold in the way that they have, but it has been entirely outwith our control. The important thing now is that Mortons is back in action, we’ve got the workforce back on the production line, and we’re ready to start producing our famous rolls that the good people of Glasgow have been crying out for.”

He added that the firm would need “help moving forward” and added: “The business is undoubtedly viable – we have a world class product and an exceptionally experienced workforce, but the factory itself is antiquated and in need of a serious overhaul.

“That’s where we need the help of the Scottish Government and its agencies, something we are hopeful we can iron out in the coming weeks.”

He also expressed gratitude for Labour MSP Paul Sweeney who he describes as having been “instrumental in securing commitments from the First Minister that her government will support us”.

“We are confident that the government will see the benefit of keeping this brand alive and keeping these workers in long term, stable employment,” he said.

“In an ideal world these things would have all been sorted out before we restarted production, but the reality is we couldn’t leave the workforce in limbo. They needed us to unlock the gates and let them get back to work, and we knew that was the right and proper thing to do.”

He concluded: “Glasgow doesn’t need to worry about having nae rolls anymore; Mortons is back.”