Welsh Country Foods to shed 200 jobs

MORE than 200 jobs are under threat at a major food processing pant in North Wales.

Welsh Country Foods, which employs 444 staff at its Gaerwen processing plant on Anglesey, says the decision to restructure had been taken after a drop in demand for lamb.

A 90-day consultation period has now started with the workforce.

Welsh Country Foods is part of the Vion Food Group, which produces and processes beef, lamb, pork bacon and chicken, as well as products such as sausages and cooked meats.

The axe is likely to fall on the meat cutting plant, with the work being transferred to a sister operation at Winsford, in Cheshire.

The slaughter operation, which employs approximately 250 people at Gaerwen, is expected to continue unaffected.

Farming unions described the news as ‘a severe blow’ for the workers and the farming community across North Wales.

“It comes on the back of significant job losses on the island in 2009, and we are particularly concerned at the knock on impact on many rural families who have family members employed at the plant,” said NFU Cymru vice-president, Ed Bailey.

Jose Peralta, managing director of the Vion red meat businesses unit, said the company was operating within an ‘increasingly competitive, and demanding marketplace’.

“We regret the need for these proposed changes announced today, and have informed our employees and their union representatives of our commitment to

consult with them,” he said.

Part of the consultation would be exploring ways to avoid redundancies, including transfers to other businesses within the wider company.

15 January 2010