An East Lancashire bakery has appointed a financial director to further strengthen the company’s operational, financial and sustainable growth.

John Meadowcroft, 54, has been promoted from financial controller, having joined Burnley's Cherrytree Bakery – which supplies muffins, tray bakes and Chorley cakes to leading supermarkets and national chain coffee shops – almost five years ago.

He said: “I’m delighted to take on the newly-created role at an exciting time in the development of Cherrytree.

“As the business’s turnover has doubled in the time I have been here, with big plans to further increase production, it was felt the time was right for the appointment of a financial director.”

The move comes as the bakery is expanding into a state-of-the-art facility following the acquisition of a 12,000 sq ft building next to its headquarters in Burnley.

The increased capacity will allow Cherrytree to expand its tray-bake offer, meet additional demand and strike deals in new markets.

Earlier this year Cherrytree, founded in 1984, ran a major recruitment campaign for 50 new staff after introducing a new weekend shift in order to meet growing demand. It will recruit again once the new facility is up and running.

John is part of the senior management team led by founder and executive chair Gary Entwistle. Others are managing director Mark Beaumont, operations director Julie Page, and two non-executive directors.

Before joining Cherrytree John’s previous experience was in the manufacturing and online retail sectors.

He said: “My new role will be more strategic. Following the purchase of the building next door, which will add extra lines and shifts to the operation, I will also be part of a team looking at environmental issues such as carbon emissions.

“We will be reviewing our vehicles, making more of our waste as recyclable as possible, and increasing our use of solar energy.”

Managing director Mark Beaumont said: “John’s impeccable work ethic and the information he provides will fully complement the future expansion of Cherrytree.

“While we are still a family business we needed to review the organisational structure to make us fit for the future.”