Tangerine Confectionery plans redundancies
The exact number of job losses expected and which sites have been hardest hit, are as yet unconfirmed.
The firm, which has its head office at Pontefract, West Yorkshire, and makes sugar confectionery and popcorn brands such as Barratts and Butterkist, has started a 30-day consultation with workers.
It said operations personnel across its seven UK manufacturing sites would be hit hardest, with a small number of staff cuts expected within support functions.
It claimed it was taking the step as it implemented leaner manufacturing processes designed to make it more efficient.
Redeploying people to other areas
It stressed that it would work hard with employees to mitigate compulsory redundancies by redeploying people to other areas and negotiating over early retirement for those who were eligible.
“It is with regret that we have to make this announcement so close to Christmas,” said company ceo Graham Hunter in a company statement.
“Tangerine Confectionery must ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible to meet the demands of today’s market and to safeguard the long term future of the company and its workforce.
‘Difficult time’
“Our primary concern at this time is the welfare of our staff affected by the consultation and we will do everything we can to support them at this difficult time.”
US private equity group Blackstone Group confirmed in July 2011 that it had snapped up a majority stake in Tangerine Confectionery.
In November last year, the company announced it was axing up to 75 jobs at its Poole factory as part of a UK-wide review of its manufacturing facilities.
It operates two plants at Clifton Road and Vicarage Lane in Blackpool, plus factories at Cleckheaton, Liverpool, Pontefract, Poole and York.
