Findus has asked other unnamed partners to take on the production of its frozen food for the UK market after the the collapse of its local manufacturing partner.
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Earlier this week, Newcastle Production, the holder of the manufacturing licence for Findus frozen foods in the UK, entered administration.
Today (16 January), administrators Zolfo Cooper said 359 Newcastle Production employees had formally been made redundant.
Some 28 staff have been kept on to assist the administrators with stock sales and the maintenance and security of the site in Longbenton, which is closed due to a recent fire.
Findus said it was continuing to meet demand for its range of frozen food, which includes crispy pancakes, ready meals and fish fingers.
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By GlobalData“Findus Ltd is continuing to satisfy the demand for products. The production of the products affected by this week’s events is being placed with other production partners,” the company said.
Findus declined to comment on the identity of the companies now producing the products or where they were based.
The business also declined to comment on whether it was looking to find a new buyer for the UK manufacturing licence for Findus.
Officials at private equity firm Lion Capital, which owns the rights to the Findus trademark in the UK, could not be reached for comment as just-food went to press.
Zolfo Cooper, meanwhile, said it had been “encouraged” in the interest shown in buying Newcastle Production.
“We are continuing to explore all options for the business. We remain confident that a sale can be achieved,” Zolfo Cooper partner Simon Wilson said.
