A HIGHBRIDGE cheesecake manufacturer hosted a double celebration to mark the opening of its new employee facilities and the commitment of its longest serving employee.

Bakkavor Desserts, the UK’s leading producer of supermarket cheesecakes, has been investing in its factory over the past three years to support the growing demand for its products.

To celebrate, the dessert manufacturer launched its new £800,000 employee facilities on Tuesday (May 28) including new changing rooms, lockers and toilets for its 540 employees.

The facilities were officially opened by planner Steve Bugden, who has worked at Bakkavor for 26 years.

John Bowman, head of site operations at Bakkavor, said: “We’re delighted that Steve has joined us today to officially open our new employee facilities as he is a valued long-standing member of our team with over 25 years service.

"We’re proud of our business here in Highbridge and as it grows, we know it’s important to invest in our facilities so that our employees feel part of a great business.”

Bakkavor Desserts is a major employer in Highbridge with strong links to its local community. Its employees choose charities they wish to support throughout the year, with this year’s charities being Somerset’s ‘Ups and Downs Southwest’ which provides support to families with children who have Down Syndrome, along with ‘Secret World Wildlife Rescue’ based in Highbridge who rescue sick, injured or orphaned wildlife.

The business has also been sharing its love of cheesecakes with The King Alfred School by setting students a cheesecake challenge as part its partnership with the IGD Feeding Britain’s Future programme.

The programme provides employability skills training to students with the support of volunteers from the food and grocery industry such as Bakkavor.