Hundreds of jobs set to go as bacon factory shuts

Workers had already been on a four day week since the autumn

Hundreds of jobs are set to be lost as a food company announces plans to close a bacon factory where workers had been on a four day week since last year.

Pilgrim's UK said the proposed closure of the Ashton-Under-Lyne factory - which puts all 542 jobs at risk - was part of a review prompted by "unfavourable market conditions".

The factory in Greater Manchester was put on a four day week after the closure of two plants in September.

Ninety new jobs will be split between Spalding, Westerleigh and Bromborough.

'No modernisation'

The company said the UK pork sector was facing "significant challenges" with the decline of the UK sow herd by 15%, cheap imports, the loss of farms and post-pandemic recovery challenges.

Rachel Baldwin, of Pilgrim’s UK, said: "The decision to propose the closure of our Ashton site has not been taken lightly.

"The age and location of Ashton within a densely populated area means that there is no feasible opportunity to modernise or grow the site."

She added: "Clearly, this announcement will have major implications, not just for our site, but also the local community in Ashton. We will do everything we can to minimise the impact of these proposals."

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