Got an interview with them next week but not sure if I’m that keen to be honest but nothing ventured etc etc. Any body got any info on them I know they got quite a few bases throughout the U K.
Used to work for them nearly 30 years ago, firstly at Gateshead when they were called Milanda (Every bakery was an independent then.) and then latterly at Westerhope in Newcastle just over the water. Was probably the best job I ever had.
But when they changed their name to BB, I was in Yorkshire then, and did some agency work at Bradford for them. The trunking side is a doddle on the class 1, but the class 2 multi drop to the shops can be a nightmare and bloody hard work. If you do the multi drop, then make sure all of your orders are on wheels before you leave the bakery on a morning. That way when you get to the shops, it’s onto the tailift, and into the shop and away.
Can’t tell you what the money is, as I don’t know, but the job can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be.
Ken.
Quinny:
Used to work for them nearly 30 years ago, firstly at Gateshead when they were called Milanda (Every bakery was an independent then.) and then latterly at Westerhope in Newcastle just over the water. Was probably the best job I ever had.But when they changed their name to BB, I was in Yorkshire then, and did some agency work at Bradford for them. The trunking side is a doddle on the class 1, but the class 2 multi drop to the shops can be a nightmare and bloody hard work. If you do the multi drop, then make sure all of your orders are on wheels before you leave the bakery on a morning. That way when you get to the shops, it’s onto the tailift, and into the shop and away.
Can’t tell you what the money is, as I don’t know, but the job can be as hard or as easy as you want it to be.
Ken.
Only interested in the class 1 work as I’ve done it a few yrs ago on agency, but don’t want to touch the shop delivery side of things.
Ditto. I’m interested in Orpington/St Mary’s Cray.
Trouble is I’m always hearing rumours that they’re shutting but they still keep going. But their place in Avonmouth looks so antiquated I can’t be sure its a safe secure job. Also I’m assuming you have to be flexible and do class 2 when someone doesn’t turn in for example.
Orpington is Allied Bakeries - not British unless something has changed recently. I did this on agency several years ago quite frequently. I thought it was a good job and was pleased to go there, but back then it was a chaotic organisation. At the time very frustrating 4am starts and not out of the yard for hours due to product not loaded. This was mainly rigids and big’uns too, multidrop, but not many actual high street. As agency usually nearly always last back and sometimes with drop or two left on due to lack of round knowledge, but no complaints from anyone resulted. They always seemed pleased to see me again and never any hint of “oh no not him please” and I certainly don’t go out of my way to be appreciated - I just give it a go. Occasional Artic work nearly always bulk supermarket, apart from the actual numbers of trays to be pushed or dragged off the trailer at each drop it was a doddle. Biggest pain, apart from identifying the product, was bringing back the empties: finding space to put them, moving them around on the wagon to get at the full trays for delivery, finding them in the customers yard and restacking them properly because no-one else could be bothered. Occasional troubles with actual order of drops, but nothing too sad. I earned very well out of Allied.
funny i can stil, remember the code for the fuel at bradford 2448, only cos it was a powerliner 
yep i did my fair share at bradford and it was a total doddle although like most jobs like that a tad boring with set runs.
I think I’ll go for the interview but not convinced It’s the job for me and I do quite like the job I’m in at the moment.
cav551:
Orpington is Allied Bakeries - not British unless something has changed recently. I did this on agency several years ago quite frequently. I thought it was a good job and was pleased to go there, but back then it was a chaotic organisation. At the time very frustrating 4am starts and not out of the yard for hours due to product not loaded. This was mainly rigids and big’uns too, multidrop, but not many actual high street. As agency usually nearly always last back and sometimes with drop or two left on due to lack of round knowledge, but no complaints from anyone resulted. They always seemed pleased to see me again and never any hint of “oh no not him please” and I certainly don’t go out of my way to be appreciated - I just give it a go. Occasional Artic work nearly always bulk supermarket, apart from the actual numbers of trays to be pushed or dragged off the trailer at each drop it was a doddle. Biggest pain, apart from identifying the product, was bringing back the empties: finding space to put them, moving them around on the wagon to get at the full trays for delivery, finding them in the customers yard and restacking them properly because no-one else could be bothered. Occasional troubles with actual order of drops, but nothing too sad. I earned very well out of Allied.
Very informative there - thanks.
It was the “top dollar” aspect rather than the work which was attracting my interest here.
I did a hovis run a few years back for £16 on a sunday which only involved taking a full load to their milton keynes depot from dagenham if memory serves… Apart from having to handball the breakbasket thingies out on my own, it was a pretty straight-forward job. Orpington is only 45 mins from me, and as far as I know, inside a top dollar area.