Barnsley’s Sweet Success: The Mr Kipling Factory in Carlton

For many of us, the words “Mr Kipling” bring to mind comforting classics, French Fancies, Cherry Bakewells, and the legendary Angel Slice. But did you know that many of these beloved treats are created right here in Barnsley?

Tucked away in Carlton, the Mr Kipling factory is one of the largest cake bakeries in Europe, and it plays a huge role in keeping Britain sweet. The site has been operating since 1975 and employs around 700 hundred people, rising to over 900 during busy times such as Christmas and Easter.

The scale of production at the Barnsley site is truly staggering. The factory produces over one billion cakes every year, running 24 hours a day. Working non-stop on their 12 production lines they can produce up to 1,000 cake slices every minute, a dizzying feat of precision and baking mastery.​

And the output doesn’t end there. The site’s mince pie production lines can bake well over an astonishing 2000 pies every minute, totalling more than 150 million mince pies every festive season. More than enough to stuff a few in your mouth over Christmas this year.

Beyond the numbers, the Carlton factory is a cornerstone of Barnsley’s manufacturing identity. Staff take pride in being part of a brand known across the UK and as the largest bakery in the UK and one of the largest in Europe. Each day, more than 50 lorries leave the site filled with fresh cakes bound for supermarkets nationwide.​

They frequently invest in and support our town too, backing local employment and apprenticeships, sourcing 70% of its ingredients from UK suppliers, including Yorkshire’s wheat and sugar producers. It’s a recipe built on community as much as confectionery.​

It’s safe to say Barnsley’s contribution to the nation’s sweet tooth is nothing short of exceedingly good.