In conversation: Rob Keeping, MD of Bells of Lazonby

Passengers idly glancing from their train window as they pass Lazonby may wonder what goes on in the warehouses that run parallel to the Settle Carlisle line.Maybe the occasional whiff of fresh baking may offer some clue.The products emerging from the family-owned Bells bakery has led to the village becoming synonymous with tasty treats all over the UK and beyond.Next year the firm will mark the 80th birthday of a business established by John Bell in 1946. At the helm today is newly appointed managing director Rob Keeping who’s been sharing details about his background and his plans for the coming years with Business Crack’s Nigel Thompson:Show notes:2 minutes Setting the scene at Lazonby where trains pass within feet of the bakery and passengers occasionally look for a coffee - and a cake of course!3 minutes Bells is a family firm so how does Rob feel as the latest member of the team?4 minutes The importance of maintaining the Cumbrian link in packaging and marketing.5 minutes The importance of Lazonby as a location7 minutes The range the company produces and how it has changed9 minutes The rising prices of ingredients and how Bells manage changing conditions12 minutes Plans for 202614 minutes Exploring new markets16 minutes Do customers get in touch?17 mins The key question; does Rob bake!?Thanks to Rob and to you for downloading this edition of Northern Lights.Subscribe now to hear more editions in 2026!