Premium Food Group (PFG), previously trading as Tönnies, plans to close its ham production site in Ahlen, Germany.
The company, which rebranded its corporate identity effective this year, plans to consolidate its ham production operations at its main site in Rheda-Wiedenbrück by 1 June.
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Germany-headquartered meat producer PFG said in a statement that the future ham processing and supply will be managed primarily from Rheda-Wiedenbrück and the Sögel site in Lower Saxony.
In consolidating production in Rheda-Wiedenbrück and relocating “partial” quantities to Sögel in Lower Saxony, “strong synergies” will be leveraged, ensuring that the ham-cutting division is “optimally” positioned for the future, the company said.
Ahlen managing director Frank Böckenkötter said the business has “no longer been able to maintain high capacity utilisation” at the site, adding “there is therefore no alternative to consolidating in Rheda”.
The company said the “majority” of the workforce will be offered jobs at the Rheda site and colleagues were “informed” of the plans earlier this week.
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By GlobalDataChristian Nottbrock, managing director of Tönnies, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer the majority of our 210 colleagues a job.
“Nevertheless, we are aware of the upcoming changes and consequences for everyone involved and will accompany them responsibly and closely.”
PFG also confirmed that consolidation will not affect delivery capability, customer-supplier relationships, or contract partners.
The Ahlen site will be “gradually” phased out, with plant and machinery either relocated to other locations or sold, although the business is “examining” various potential uses for the building.
The move comes as the company closed one of its export packaging departments for Asia in March last year, impacting approximately 140 employees.
With over 15,000 employees, the family-run business serves “millions of consumers” daily with a wide array of food products.
In September, PFG (then Tönnies) struck a deal to acquire beef assets in Germany from Netherlands-based peer Vion.
