Solar powered cake production at Mr Kipling plant

4 November 2025

Mr Kipling cakes could soon be made using electricity generated by the sun, following a £2.1 million investment in a new solar farm at Premier Foods’ Carlton Bakery. The installation, built on vacant land within the site, spans 2.9 hectares and features 3,500 panels. Once fully operational next month, it is expected to supply nearly three-quarters of the bakery’s electricity needs at peak production, powering mixers, packaging machinery, lighting and office equipment.

The Carlton Bakery, one of the region’s largest food production facilities, employs up to 1,000 people at peak output. The solar project is projected to reduce carbon emissions by 468 tonnes per year and deliver savings in energy costs, supporting the long-term resilience of the business. The system could also export surplus electricity to the local grid when generation exceeds demand.

Nick Brown, ESG director at Premier Foods, says:

“Our Carlton Bakery was the largest purpose-build bakery in the world when it opened in the 1970s, and it remains the biggest bakery in the UK. This investment ensures it’s part of a more sustainable future. By generating more of our energy needs on site, we’re not only reducing our carbon footprint but making our operations even more resilient. It’s also positive that the solar farm has the capability to potentially export electricity back into the local electricity grid, when we are producing more electricity than we need. This project is a key step in helping us deliver on our Enriching Life Plan commitments to cut emissions and reach net zero – delivering real environmental benefits for the local community and our business as a whole.”

The Carlton solar farm is part of a wider programme of renewable energy investment across Premier Foods’ sites, including a £0.5 million system already completed at its Stoke bakery and another project under way in Ashford. The company also worked with local planning and ecology experts to develop a ten-year biodiversity plan, including planting around the site to encourage local wildlife.