Kerry to close Portadown pie factory

Kerry Group has insisted there will be no disruption in supply of its Denny pies, following news that it is closing one of the factories that makes them in Portadown, Northern Ireland.

The firm intends to transfer production to facilities in Burton-on-Trent and Poole in Dorset, which also make the pies. Frank Hayes, Kerry Group corporate affairs director, said: “Production would be seamlessly maintained and there will be no impact on the availability of product to customers.”

The company supplies a range of retailers and wholesalers, from large supermarket chains to smaller independents.

Hayes said a period of consultation with employees had begun, which he expected to be completed in April, when production would cease at Portadown.

“The savoury area has become quite difficult in recent years,” he said. “This may lead to 94 redundancies, but we are looking at redeployment opportunities and have in fact already redeployed a small number of people.”

Distribution, administrative and sales functions at Portadown will also be hit by the closure.