Pork Farms' £11M cold pie investment

Pork Farms is closing its factory in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, and transferring production to an £11M unit for cold pie manufacture in Nottingham, following a review of that side of its operations.

The site has been chosen because it is within the Protected Geographical Indications region, where permission by the European Commission to make Melton Mowbray branded pork pies is pending.

The plan is to transfer products to the new site from January to March 2008, with the current factory not closing before April 2008. The company aims to redeploy employees to other sites, especially its Shaftesbury site, 25 miles away from the Trowbridge centre of operations. It said it would provide outplacement support in finding new employment or training opportunities for anyone made redundant. A 90-day consultation period is underway with the workforce and trade union representatives.

“We understand this proposal is likely to cause concern for those affected and their families,” said Mike Godley, general manager at Trowbridge. “We would like to thank employees and trade unions for their co-operation and continued support at this time.

“While this proposal is regrettable it is essential to achieve the required cost structure to protect and grow our business in the UK.”