Greencore to close factory and axe 180 jobs

Greencore is to close its frozen desserts factory in West Yorkshire, resulting in the loss of around 180 jobs.

The factory manufactures own-label products for retailers, which will be discontinued as well as its Pudz brand launched in 2006. Desserts supplied to foodservice, however, will be manufactured at its other frozen desserts factory in Taunton, Somerset.

The 90-day consultation period began at the Keighley-based site on January 23.

A spokesman for the company said that the plant had been making a loss for some time. “We have been looking at all options, including consolidation, but with regret, we see no other alternative but to close down this site.”

Greencore Group’s share price has fallen from a 52-week high of 4.39p on March 12, 2008, to a 52-week low of 0.82p on January 21, 2009.

Greencore is an Irish-owned producer of convenience foods and ingredients, which makes own-label products as well as producing food under licence.