RF Brookes food factory closure in South Wigston confirms union fears as 229 jobs lost
Union leaders have expressed anger after it was announced a food factory is to close, with the loss of 229 jobs.
RF Brookes, of South Wigston, is expected to cease trading by the end of March next year after its owner said yesterday the loss-making business was unsustainable.
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The RF Brookes food factory, in South Wigston, is expected to cease trading by the end of March next year
The chilled food producer has lost two major contracts to make pies and pizzas for supermarkets over the past 12 months. In July, owner 2 Sisters Food Group said up to 150 jobs would be lost after it transferred some food production to a site in Nottingham.
At the time, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) warned 2 Sisters was looking to close the Magna Road factory after a second round of redundancies at the site in two months. Managers had denied this.
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BFAWU regional officer Tony Lewis said: "I find the whole thing very upsetting, especially for those who have given their all for the company and now find themselves thrown on the scrapheap.
"There are people who have been at the company for 25 to 30 years. People are absolutely gutted after all those years of loyal service."
A spokesman for 2 Sisters said: "After exploring all viable options, unfortunately it has not been possible to find a sustainable future for the loss-making factory. We are proposing to transfer the remaining products from Leicestershire to other company factories and close the site during the first quarter of 2013, following a 90-day consultation period with our 229 colleagues."
Veepul Patel, divisional director for RF Brookes, said: "The decision is not taken lightly. Our immediate priority now is to support our colleagues in Leicestershire through consultation."
The spokesman said he could not say where the factory's remaining products – pizza bases and Yorkshire puddings – would be transferred to. As well as Nottingham, 2 Sisters also has two factories in South Wales.
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council leader John Boyce, who represents South Wigston, said: "It's a devastating blow. There are a fair number of local people who work there and it will have a knock-on effect on the local economy in terms of the supply chain and retailers."
RF Brookes was sold by Premier Foods to Birmingham-based 2 Sisters as part of a £30 million deal in December last year.
At the start of the year the factory employed about 500 people.
In June, hundreds of workers at the factory took strike action in protest over a cut in redundancy payments.
Comments
by male46
Thursday, October 04 2012, 6:26AM
“"Every Little Helps!"
no doubt another victim of lower supermarket prices.”
by Grant2010
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 10:18PM
“Sorry about that heisspartacus, my posting should have read -
"When will retailers wake-up to the fact that if they persisted in not supporting local in-dustries, the knock-on-effect is fewer customers? At the moment the reality is those at the top of retail business are claiming high salaries for putting their customers out of work or in effect cutting everyone's salaries bar their own."”
by SWWOMAN
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 9:51PM
“Regarding the post by silentmist, alot of local people DO work there and also alot of people who have lost their jobs from R F BROOKS were local aswell.”
by silentmist
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 8:45PM
“I seriously doubt that many employees there are from South Wigston. Factories in South Wigston have a history of preferentially hiring people bussed in from the city.
The closure of this factory won't have much of an effect locally. Most local businesses deal with stuff that's been subjected to lard and salt. Although, I suspect that view will be peddled to try and pressure people into accepting a new waste processing plant under the 'it'll create jobs' carrot.”
by oldhenry
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 8:12PM
“Well, in this broken Britain it is par for the course. The cheapest deal is what the retailer wants so he can add his massive margin to cream off the profits and take a huge bonus.
It is called capitalism and it is what Cameron, and Blair before him, are there for.
There is little hope for the UK, if I were young I would emigrate as the economy here is only going to wind down and down. Couple that with benefit payments going up and up and you can see what the result will be. Bankrupt economy , massive cuts to welfare and the few working taxed to death- well those without advisors to keep the dosh offshore of course.”
by SvenWeTrust
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 7:55PM
“My Brother has worked there for over 16 years, he lives local and now finds himself in the Scrapheap because of the greedy, clueless management.
As for Marks & Spencer's, well what can we say. No wonder half of us no longer shop there, hope you have a conscience for all these people loosing there jobs just after Christmas !!
I bet they don't loose there Jobs !!!”
by heisspartacus
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 7:49PM
“Grant, your first sentence has lost me, try again”
by Grant2010
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 5:53PM
“When will retailer wake-up to the fact that if the persite in not supporting local industries the knock-on-effect is no less customers. At the moment the reality is those at the top of retail busness are claiming high salaries for putting their customers out of work or ineffect cutting everyones salaries bar their own.”
by 1852CW
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 3:08PM
“The decsion to close brookes was made by Marks & Spencer 2 years ago and 2 sisters have done nothing to try and keep it open. They have actually tried to pin the blame on the poor workers that went on stike fighting for there rights and used it as an excuse to speed up the shutdown. Everyone knows the pizza bases are going to nottingham and yorkshires to wales but the directors havent got the decency to be honest. This is not the 1st time Marks & Spencer have asked for exclusivity then pulled the rug, shame on them and 2 sisters for there hiden agenda.”
by lcat123
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 1:21PM
“Such a shame. The workers have always been so dedicated, it was not their fault. The place has been run by idiots for years. If they had the balls to stand up to people and make better decisions the place would still be making a profit. RIP R F Brookes”