Jus-Rol factory sale welcomed by union

Production at the Jus-Rol facility ended on September 22, with the loss of 265 jobs. Production moved oversees after General Mills, owner of Jus-Rol, said it needed to consolidate production to “address excess capacity”.​

General Mills and Country Style Foods expected to complete the transaction before the end of the calendar year. No details were disclosed on the financials surrounding the deal.  

Country Style Foods is a modern craft bakery company, with sites across the UK that specialise in producing in-store bakery breads, pastries, pies and desserts.

It supplies the in-store bakeries of leading grocery retailers, as well as servicing foodservice customers.

Usdaw welcomed the move ​

Usdaw divisional officer Lawrence Wason, said it was aware that another company was set to purchase the site.

“This is positive and will hopefully be for employees that had been made redundant and for the local community.” ​

He said that while a few of those made redundant had managed to secure new employment, the area was limited in employment opportunities.

The union said it would be keen to talk to the new owners about union recognition at the site.

Best possible outcome ​

A spokesman for Jus-Rol said: “We’re pleased that a successful business of Country Style Foods stature has chosen to enter into an agreement to take ownership of the Berwick site. ​

“We believe that this will provide the best possible outcome for the facility and the local community.”​

Joe Wood, md of Country Style Foods, added: “We’re delighted to be expanding our operations to Berwick and building upon the site’s heritage to supply high quality bakery products.”​