Over 500 jobs at risk in Spalding food factory closure plan

Over 500 jobs are at risk at Bakkavor over the proposed closure of one of its salad factories in Spalding.

Bakkavor’s Spalding site on West Marsh Road has two salad factories, two meal factories and a distribution centre.

The impact of a business loss at the start of the year and the current coronavirus crisis has taken its toll on the salads businesses in Spalding – Factory One and the Deli.

The firm wants to cease operating Factory One and to change the night shift patterns within the Deli.

It is now entering into several consultations with employees at the Spalding site.

If the proposals go ahead, it will try to find alternative roles wherever possible for those affected across its Lincolnshire sites or within the group.

A spokesperson for Bakkavor said: “We can confirm that we are entering into several consultations with employees at our Spalding site where we have two salad factories, two meals factories and a distribution centre.

“Over the past 12 months the salads businesses at Spalding (Factory One and the Deli) have come under increasing pressure due to the impact of a business loss at the beginning of 2020 and more recently the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.

“As a result, we have had to make some difficult decisions to ensure we can continue to remain sustainable in what remains a particularly difficult trading environment.

“We are therefore proposing to cease operating Factory 1 and change the night shift patterns within the Deli.

“We are also proposing to change how we manage operations across the site which will involve reviewing and reducing functional support roles. There are just over 500 employees impacted by these proposals. We believe these changes are fundamental to the future success of the site.”

Earlier this year, Bakkavor Salads completed a consultation period which resulted in a number of redundancies, but alternative roles were secured for the vast majority of people affected by that change.