Dutch-owned food group Vion has announced plans to cut 180 jobs at its Haverhill site in Suffolk.

The firm last year cut around 820 jobs from its UK operations after the loss of Marks and Spencer’s deli business.

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The company said today (24 February) that proposals are now being put forward to “re-organise” its cooked meats business with the aim of “improving operational efficiencies”, which also involved an ongoing capital investment programme.

As a result, all personnel at the plant were informed yesterday of the proposed plans, which will result in around 180 job losses across the site, affecting both salaried and hourly paid roles.

Andy Hills, managing director at Haverhill, said: “Against a backdrop of an increasingly competitive marketplace, Vion Haverhill has been undergoing a re-structuring of operations, and a programme of investment is being implemented. Unfortunately, such changes can take some time. Our focus continues to build a site that will deliver quality products to the UK market.”

Hills said the firm will “explore all opportunities to mitigate against job losses”.

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A spokesperson for Vion said the firm was investing “substantial” sums of money in the plant, but declined to give a figure.

Haverhill was owned by the Grampian Country Food Group, which was bought by Vion in 2008.

Last year, Vion axed around 470 jobs at its Haverhill site, 200 at Malton in North Yorkshire and 150 at its Cambuslang facility in Lanarkshire.

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