Mass produced bread in the UK is made by a process called the 'Chorleywood' process - which, basically, alters the composition of basic bread to fit the mass production method. In doing so, it takes away lots of good things and adds in chemicals - the bread produced is basically crap. We're lucky in our village in that we have two reasonable small local bakeries but, even so, nothing beats home-made IMO. In many towns and villages, independent bakeries have ceased to exist.

Compare with France, where almost every town, city and village has its artisan bakery, or even just an ordinary, decent local bakery.