UK poultry processor 2 Sisters Food Group is considering shuttering a processing facility in Smethwick, West Midlands.
“We can confirm we are consulting with colleagues about a proposal to cease production at our poultry processing site in Smethwick and as a result the site could close,” the company said in a statement. “The factory at Bevan Way, Alpha Business Park, is ageing and has significant challenges to meet the standards required by ourselves and our customers.”
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2 Sisters currently employs 630 people at the Alpha Business Park. The company said that it would offer affected colleagues “up to 200 roles” at its other West Midlands locations, which would be converted from agency to permanent positions. “In addition, we will also seek redeployment of colleagues to our other sites in the West Midlands and the wider group,” the company said.
“We are committed to our operations in the West Midlands and will work hard to ensure all possible options for colleagues are fully explored before any final decisions are made.”
A spokesperson for Unite, the union representing 2 Sisters workers in Smethwick, said that it is currently conducting talks with the company over the proposal.
Unite national officer for food Julia Long commented: “This is devastating news for the company’s workforce at the Smethwick site and their families… Unite will study the implications of the announcement from the 2 Sisters Food Group and we will be strongly arguing the case to mitigate job losses thorough redeployment across the firm’s other operations in the West Midlands.”
Last week it emerged that 2 Sisters’ owner, Boparan Holding, is also planning UK job cuts at Bernard Matthews. The turkey business was acquired acquired in January in a pre-pack administration deal by the private investment vehicle of Ranjit Boparan.
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