Vion to close Sheffield sausage plant
The announcement follows a 90-day consultation with all 205 staff that began in late April, but it is not yet clear how many jobs will be lost, and how many employees will be transferred to other UK sites operated by Vion.
In its annual report for 2010, the Dutch-based multinational said it faced increasing “processing over-capacity” for pork products in the UK, even though consumer demand for sausages, bacon and sliced cooked meats remained positive.
“In addition, with feed representing the most significant input cost in pig farming, it was the dramatic rise in commodity prices that impacted most strongly on cost management,” the report continued.
Partnered Asda
Vion is a major supplier of own-label sausages and last year partnered Asda for the launch of the Extra Special Connoisseur range. It is one of the UK’s leading pork processors and owns its own pig farms.
In May Vion announced it would be closing its Thorne poultry processing site near Doncaster after identifying several acute operational difficulties.
A 90-day consultation is ongoing, with 255 jobs (201 production and 54 head office roles) potentially at risk if plans are pushed through to consolidate production at more efficient existing sites in Sandycroft (North Wales) and Coupar Angus in Perthshire.
