Final loaves baked as Warry's closes

A SOMBRE atmosphere hung in the air as the final loaves of bread were baked by Warry's Bakery in Guernsey.

Tony O'Neill, chief executive of Sandpiper CI, said yesterday that staff were understandably sad as the final batches were baked and delivered from the Grand Bouet bakery. But he said they were equally understanding of the company's decision to close the longstanding facility.

Sandpiper announced last month it was closing both Warry's and CI Bakery in Jersey, after the business had lost 50% of its sales over the last three years, as islanders turned to cheaper imports rather than choosing locally-made bread and cakes.

'I have to take my hat off to all my colleagues in both islands who worked with the best intent right to the end,' said Mr O'Neill.

Mr O'Neill said they had managed to find new jobs, in other parts of the business, for around 10 members of staff from both islands. The rest were given redundancy packages, despite Guernsey not having a statutory redundancy law.