Federation of Bakers

The Federation of Bakers is the main industry trade organisation in the UK for large-scale baking of bread.

History

The equivalent of around 11 million loaves of bread are sold in the UK each day. Large bread baking companies in the UK produce around 80% of bread sold, and around 75% comes from three main companies; in-store bakeries produce around 17%; and craft bakers produce the rest.
The FOB was established in 1942 to help with the Rationing in [the United Kingdom|rationing of bread], called the National Loaf.

Function

The industry is worth £3.5bn, with around 20,000 employees. There are around 33 main bread bakeries, with nine main companies. The organisation works with the Flour Advisory Bureau.

Bread production in the UK

By law, British flour must be fortified with calcium, iron, B1, B3, and folic acid. Folic acid and B9 have been added since 2021. 80% of bread in the UK is made with the Chorleywood bread process invented in 1961, which has double the amount of yeast.

Structure

It is headquartered in the London Borough of Camden, between the A400 and Southampton Row.