Anglo-Dutch company Unilever, the world's second-biggest maker of branded household products by sales, increased its marketing budget by £124m to £5.13bn in 2011. Net profits increased 1% from £3.8bn to £3.83 in 2011 but the company is cautious of the future outlook due to difficult conditions in mature economies.

Greggs Plc has opened a sandwich outlet at the Onyx Retail Park, Manvers, South Yorkshire, creating 10 new jobs. The site was chosen because of its proximity to the A633 and to expanding residential areas.

The Real Good Food Company plc, which owns the largest independent non-refining distributor of sugar in Europe (Napier Brown) and is a supplier of dairy ingredients (Garretts), supplies bakery ingredients (Renshaw), jam and bakery ingredients (R&W Scott) and manufactures patisserie and desserts (Haydens Bakery), has recorded a 62% rise in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization. Company earnings rose to £9.1m for 2011, compared to £5.6m in 2010. Pieter Totte is Executive Chairman.

Kingdom Baker Ltd has appointed receivers and ceased trading with the loss of 135 bakery jobs. RSM Tenon is working to secure a sale of the business and its assets and has received six enquiries. Kingdom Bakers operated two sites in Scotland, at Kirkcaldy and Dysart.