2 Sisters Food Group confirms closure

FoodProductionDaily reported last month​ that the plant, which produces roast chickens for various supermarket chains, was no longer economical due to an old building and inadequate power supply.

The closure has led to 600 job losses with 200 employees offered a transfer to one of several factories in East Anglia; Eye and Flixton in Suffolk; Thetford in Norfolk, and Basildon and Witham in Essex.

The site was loss-making​

“We announced a proposal to close the site back in September​,” said Nick Murray, head of communications, 2 Sisters Food Group.

“Our argument was the site was unsustainable economically, environmentally and commercially. The site was loss-making, ageing and unviable​.”

Murray said the company entered a 45-day consultation period with all employees but after negotiations there was no alternative but to close the factory.

“We explored all other options, but unfortunately confirmed that we would indeed close the facility​.

An uncertain time​

“It was officially closed on November 15, although in reality there will still be a skeleton staff there for a few weeks. Production will transfer to our other factories​.”

At the time of the announcement, Peter King, customer agriculture category manager, 2SistersFoodGroup, said it had been an uncertain time for the firm over the last two months.

But, he said, the company had taken the ‘opportunity to have meaningful consultation’ with its employees and union and elective reps.

He added the firm was working with the Suffolk Redundancy Network to help employees find alternative jobs. Of the 600 workers, 430 were permanent employees and the remainder were hired via Staff Lines Employment Agency.

Unequal pay demands​

USDAW union representative Adam Skwierawski, confirmed it had examined the employer's claims and it was trying to reduce the impact of the redundancies on its members.

According to Paul Robertson, adviser for claims management company Pay Justice, a number of female workers were looking into compensation from the company for unequal pay claims.

Robertson told the Bury Mercury, ‘hundreds of workers could be entitled to receive money as lowly-paid female members of staff were earning less than workers in male-dominated departments in equivalent roles’.

The claims were currently under investigation and Pay Justice said a worker who had been employed for about six years would be in line for a claim of between £5,000-£20,000, if they were successful.