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07/10/2004
Grimsby factory closure sees 600 jobs axed
Around 600 jobs are to go at Unilever after the company revealed that it had failed to find a bidder for its Grimsby factory.
The plant, part of Unilever Ice Cream & Frozen Food division which makes Birds Eye Frozen Food, will close following an 11-month review "involving extensive discussions with employees".
Last November, Unilever said it was concerned the Grimsby ready meals factory "might be at a competitive disadvantage" to some other manufacturers which have bigger scale, lower cost manufacturing facilities.
The review also included the Lowestoft factory - but staff there were informed today the company was no longer seeking a purchaser for its potato operation, so the factory will continue to operate under Unilever ownership. The Lowestoft factory employs 750 staff of which 120 work in the potato production area.
In today's statement the company said its preferred option of selling the Grimsby factory to a specialist third party partner, along with a deal to continue to source products from the factory, had not succeeded.
Grimsby General Manager Roger Norrington said: "We are disappointed extensive negotiations with possible purchasers for the factory haven't succeeded. It would have preserved employment and was the preferred option. We tried very hard, but it just didn't prove possible in the end".
The company is transferring products currently made in Grimsby to specialist third party suppliers "with the expectation of improved costs, innovation and flexibility".
(gmcg/mb)
The plant, part of Unilever Ice Cream & Frozen Food division which makes Birds Eye Frozen Food, will close following an 11-month review "involving extensive discussions with employees".
Last November, Unilever said it was concerned the Grimsby ready meals factory "might be at a competitive disadvantage" to some other manufacturers which have bigger scale, lower cost manufacturing facilities.
The review also included the Lowestoft factory - but staff there were informed today the company was no longer seeking a purchaser for its potato operation, so the factory will continue to operate under Unilever ownership. The Lowestoft factory employs 750 staff of which 120 work in the potato production area.
In today's statement the company said its preferred option of selling the Grimsby factory to a specialist third party partner, along with a deal to continue to source products from the factory, had not succeeded.
Grimsby General Manager Roger Norrington said: "We are disappointed extensive negotiations with possible purchasers for the factory haven't succeeded. It would have preserved employment and was the preferred option. We tried very hard, but it just didn't prove possible in the end".
The company is transferring products currently made in Grimsby to specialist third party suppliers "with the expectation of improved costs, innovation and flexibility".
(gmcg/mb)
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