900 jobs are at risk in the East Midlands region as Bakkavor announces closure of two local factories.
The company is proposing to close Bakkavor Salads in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire and Bakkavor Desserts in Leicester, with around 900 staff working between the two sites.
The company blames the macro-economic backdrop and in particular consumer sentiment in the UK , which it says remains very challenging.
In a press statement the company states: “As reported in our Half Year Results announcement in September, the significant level of inflation and consumer headwinds we are continuing to face are expected to persist into next year.
“Recent investments across our UK operations to enhance our capacity and capabilities provide us with a strong platform on which to further leverage our scale and flexibility. Therefore, as we seek to protect our business, we have undertaken a detailed review of our UK footprint. We are proposing to close two sites; Bakkavor Salads in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire and Bakkavor Desserts in Leicester. Our other UK sites have the capacity and capabilities to continue to fully service our customers should these proposals go ahead.
“As a business that invests in the development of its people, rewards long service and invests in the local communities in which we operate, it is with great sadness that this difficult but necessary business decision may impact a number of our colleagues. Across the two sites, we employ over 900 colleagues.
“We will shortly be commencing a 45-day consultation period with affected colleagues and their representatives at both sites. If the proposals go ahead, we will do everything we can to support our colleagues and try to minimise job losses. We are committed to offering our weekly paid colleagues comparable roles at a different Bakkavor site, and for those where this is not possible, we will be working on several initiatives to help colleagues secure alternative employment opportunities in their local area.”
Mike Edwards, CEO, commented:“As with businesses all over the UK, we are having to take decisive action to adapt to the challenging macro-economic backdrop. The decision to close any site is never taken lightly, and we do not underestimate the impact of this announcement on our colleagues and the local communities within which we operate. We remain committed to both protecting our business and doing everything we can to support our people through this difficult time.”
