The trade union Unite has called on meat giant Danish Crown’s UK subsidiary Tulip to “engage” after it was confirmed 150 jobs at one of the company’s facilities in Cornwall are to be lost.

The union described the loss of jobs at the meat processing plant at Bodmin as “a body blow” to Cornwall’s economy.

Tulip, the UK processed meat subsidiary of Denmark’s Danish Crown, announced in April it was looking to reduce its workforce at the facility.

Up to 170 of the approximately 320 employees at the site were likely to be affected, it said at the time. The company announced it has entered into a period of collective consultation with employees and their representatives at the facility.

But now Tulip has said due to a loss of business there had been a “significant fall in production volumes” and confirmed job losses will become a reality with 150 workers affected.

The job losses are being linked to the loss of a contract with UK retail giant Tesco.

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Tulip said in a statement sent to just-food: “We have worked closely with our employees at Bodmin to help reduce the impact where possible and we have managed to successfully find alternative roles for a number of employees within the Danish Crown Group.

“Various employee support activities have also been taking place since the initial announcement was made. We’ll make every effort to support anyone affected through redundancy packages and continued recruitment advice.”

But Unite has called on Tulip’s management to discuss the job losses at “a hideously difficult time” for the workforce.
 
Unite’s regional officer, Deborah Hopkins, said: “Unite is urging the management at Bodmin to actively engage with us to chart a way forward at what is a hideously difficult time for the workers. 
 
“Jobs that are being lost are focused at the lower end of the skill spectrum and we are keen to work with the staff to provide support, however, as yet, Tulip has not invited the unions to work with it.”

Tulip has two sites in Cornwall – the other being at Redruth. Tulip said in April there was no suggestion the Bodmin plant would close.