Vion is to close two of its facilities in Germany as part of a restructuring programme by the firm, putting around 113 jobs at risk.
The Dutch group said it will close its Lausitz slaughterhouse in Kasel-Golzig and its Atlas-Handelsgesellschaft slaughterhouse in Minden. The move, Vion said, will “strengthen” its major regional sites in Germany and will eventually “improve” Vion’s overall efficiency.
Minden’s supplies will be sent to Vion’s Emstek and Zeven sites, while facilities in Perleberg and Altenburg sites will take on deliveries to Lausitz.
“Vion Food has decided to implement this restructuring operation in order to further secure the company’s strong roots within the regional agricultural sector,” the company said. “Nothing will change for customers from the meat-processing industry and food retail: they will continue to receive their goods in the same manner and with the same tried and trusted quality and freshness they are accustomed to.”
The company said it has also decided frozen convenience production at its Wunstorf site is “no longer part of the core business” and is therefore preparing to initiate a sale process for that part of the business.
“The first thing to do now is to plan meetings with the Works Councils in order to discuss compensation and redundancy schemes. Timely termination of the contracts with external service providers has been scheduled,” Vion said.
Vion last month announced plans to close a pork production site in the Netherlands, as part of its plans to further consolidate output.
The move is part of a restructuring process by Vion of its operations in the Netherlands and Germany, where it is increasing its focus on the pork and beef markets. It follows decision by the company last year to quit the UK.
