A BELOVED Scottish bakery’s £11 million plans to expand its operating base as part of a bid to double its number of outlets have been approved.
Fife Council green-lit Baynes the Family Bakers' extension plans at its Lochore base earlier this week as the firm looks to open 69 new shop units across Scotland as part of its ambitious plans to grow.
The firm currently has 71 sites, but outlined in its “significant expansion programme” application that the facilities that produce the products would need to see a large increase if Baynes plans to double its high street presence.
The extension to its Orwell Bakery facility, where just under 1000 people are employed, will create 15 additional jobs in Lochore, with a further 300 new roles being created across the proposed 69 new shops.
The application submission statement read: “As part of a major growth and diversification of the bakery business, Baynes are embarking on a significant expansion programme, which will include the opening of a further 69 new shop units across Scotland.
“As a key part of this expansion programme, SM Bayne are currently in the process of finalising the purchase of part of the allocated employment site which lies directly adjacent to their existing facility from Fife Council …
“The proposed extension is therefore needed to support the expansion of the retail side of the company which will see the 71 current shop units increased to 140 units across Scotland, all serviced from the Lochore manufacturing and distribution base.
“This is therefore a significant investment by a successful local business, and represents a c.£20m capital investment in the Lochore facility.”
The proposal for the expansion includes the reconfiguration of a garage, to allow the bakery hall to be extended by 1575 square metres, as well as a larger store room and van driver welfare facilities.
A new one-way route will also be created for delivery and despatch vehicles.
John Baynes founded the company in 1954 when he saw an opportunity to make steak pies for local miners.
His grandson, also called John, is now the joint managing director, and the firm has expanded through central Scotland and become a main feature in many local high streets.
Baynes has stores in Glasgow, Edinburgh, East Lothian, Stirling, Perth, Dundee, Clackmannanshire, and Lanarkshire, as well as in their home region, Fife.
When the plans were submitted in late 2025, joint managing director John Bayne told the Central Fife Times: “The planning and development of our production facilities represent a core pillar of our long-term business strategy and our vision for the future.
“This investment is about building a business that is forward-looking and resilient.
“By strengthening our infrastructure now, we are ensuring that Bayne’s is positioned for sustainable, long-term growth, allowing us to double our footprint across Scotland over the coming years.
“Crucially, this expansion will create significant new employment opportunities within the communities we serve.
“As we grow our retail presence and enhance our production capabilities, we are committed to investing in our people and providing stable, local jobs.”
It comes after Bayne's posted a 15% increase in sales in 2025, as profits held steady.
Bayne's told The National that despite facing “significant inflationary headwinds,” his firm is still committed to “growing carefully” by “reinvesting” in local communities.
Turnover during the year to March 31 rose by 15% to a record £51.3m, while pre-tax profits held steady at £3.4m.
