Food specialist helping jobless Fogarty staff

Leading food producer Freshtime has stepped in to try and help people who lost their jobs after the sudden closure of long-standing Boston company Fogarty.

As previously reported, unions said over 200 people had lost their jobs at bedding brand Fogarty, who had been operating in Boston for over a century before closing towards the end of October 2018.

Food on the go specialist Freshtime is hosting a recruitment afternoon at its factory on Marsh Lane in Boston on Monday, November 5, encouraging Forgarty’s workers to come along.

Freshtime’s Head of HR, Jennie Beasley, said: “The closure of Fogarty has caused a huge blow to Boston and we understand the upset and stress it has caused among its workforce.

“As another of Boston’s largest employers, we are keen to help out where possible. Our factory is also situated within walking and cycling distance from Boston town centre and we offer plenty of free on site parking for colleagues.

Freshtime has a variety of roles available and is keen to help those affected by the closure of Fogarty.

“If you have lost your job owing to the closure of Fogarty and are looking for a new opportunity, then please get in touch. Our open afternoon takes place from 2pm until 5pm and we will be holding bookable hourly slots.

“We are also happy to speak to anyone not associated with Fogarty interested in a job at Freshtime, but please contact us in advance to book.

“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to all who have been affected by recent events at the Fogarty factory and wish them the best of luck for the future.”

Anyone wishing to secure a slot or to find out more about the jobs available should contact Freshtime’s HR team by calling 01205 318863 or emailing [email protected].

Pilgrim Foods are also having a drop-in coffee morning from 9am-11pm on Wednesday, November 7 to discuss career opportunities.

Shocked at the closure

Executive councillor for economy at Lincolnshire County Council, Councillor Colin Davie, previously expressed his shock at the closure of Fogarty.

He said: “We have intelligence on a lot of businesses, how they are performing etc. Fogarty was not on our list as a business that was in trouble or was in danger of collapse so it was a shock to us and a total shock obviously for the workforce.

“Looking back on the announcement, as a big supplier of products to a lot of the big High Street chain stores maybe there was something about that, or that they found it increasingly difficult to compete in what is now a global marketplace for those products, I don’t know.”

He added the council would be working with the local council and Job Centre to help those affected.

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