Bristol-based Anstee’s Bakery forks out £5K for unauthorised equipment use

Bristol-based Anstee’s Bakery has had to provide a Court with a formal Undertaking to stop using bread baskets belonging to Bakers Basco for transporting its products without permission, in addition to paying £5,250 in costs and damages.

During a legal hearing, which took place on February 6, 2017 in the County Court at Bristol, the owner of the business Mr Bryan Anstee, agreed to enter into an Order to stop using Bakers Basco equipment without consent of the owners.

During the hearing, Deputy District Judge Ellery explained to Mr Anstee the consequences of failing to keep his promise to the Court, which could include being fined, having assets seized or even being sent to prison. The defendant did not submit any evidence in advance of the Court hearing.

This wasn’t the first time Anstee Bakery had been using the equipment without permission. The business has been caught on a number of occasions using its membership’s equipment and has historically made payments totalling £2,200 in damages.
Bakers Basco 1Bakers Basco equipment is clearly marked as the company’s property. Usually, when it becomes aware that its equipment is being used without permission, a simple request to return the items is enough. However, in cases where companies hold on to Bakers Basco’s property after being asked to return it, it will take legal action.

“This is the latest in a series of ongoing cases where we have had to pursue legal action to stop people from using and abusing our equipment,”
said Steve Millward, General Manager, Bakers Basco.
“Our baskets and dollies are designed to transport bread safely, cost-effectively and in an environmentally-friendly way but when people divert them for their own use, it has a knock-on effect on bakers, retailers and, at the end of the day, shoppers, all of whom end up footing the bill for the actions of a small minority.”

Bakers Basco was set up to manage and license a pool of four million bread baskets and associated wheeled dollies for the use of bakers. This allows for sharing of costs, a common design which optimises space in delivery vehicles (hence reducing ‘food miles’) and less waste from disposable packaging ending up in landfill. Currently, around 25 bakeries, ranging from small to very large, pay a license fee to use the equipment.