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NEARLY 300 workers are facing an uncertain future after a baker went into administration.

Changes in people's tastes was partly blamed for the problems to hit Tindale and Stanton which employs 297 people across four sites.

The company is continuing to trade as normal while administrators try to find a buyer. It is the latest blow to the company, which makes pasties, pies, savoury products and bread.

In February 2005, fire tore through its bread bakery at the Hobson Industrial Estate in Burnopfield, causing £1m of damage.

The majority of the firm's workers are based at its savoury product manufacturing site in Burnopfield and bread manufacturing site in Gateshead, bought after the fire.

There are also a number of workers at distribution sites in Newton Aycliffe and Ossett, West Yorkshire.

Ian Stokoe of Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, which have been appointed administrators, said: "They are working as normal at the moment. We are looking to keep trading while we seek a buyer. The situation will be reviewed over the course of the next week or two. We are going to have to look for support from suppliers and customers while we continue to trade.

"The main aim is to find a buyer.

"Trading has been difficult in recent months and the administration of such a well established business is clearly disappointing news for all stakeholders and the employees in particular."

Mr Stokoe believed that part of the reason for the problems the firm faced was changing public tastes over a number of years and said it was not an overnight' problem.

He said: "There are a number of reasons.

Healthy eating and a change in people's tastes is one. They supply people such as fish and chip shops and there has been a general move over the years to other take away facilities."

Following the fire in 2005, T&S bought the Bakehouse Craft bakery, in Gateshead, as a replacement for its bread plant.

5:58pm Friday 9th May 2008

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