Pilgrims pig site closure puts more than 500 jobs at risk
© Tim Scrivener The UK pork sector is facing further concerns, as processor Pilgrim’s UK has announced plans to close its site at Ashton-under-Lyne, putting 542 employees at risk of redundancy.
The company had previously announced it was moving to a four-day week in September last year.
Existing operations will now be transferred to other facilities at Spalding, Westerleigh and Bromborough.
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Pilgrims also announced the closure of two other processing sites at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and Coalville, Leicestershire in 2022.
Rachel Baldwin, vice-president of human resources at Pilgrim’s UK, said: “The decision to propose the closure of our Ashton site has not been taken lightly and we have made every effort to explore alternative options.”
Ms Baldwin added that a key part of the company’s work to return to growth was ensuring it is fully optimising its operational footprint.
The age and location of Ashton within a densely populated area meant that there was no feasible opportunity to modernise or expand the site.
National Pig Association chief executive, Lizzie Wilson said: “With the breeding herd down 25% in two years and slaughter numbers dropping 20% year on year, this news is disappointing for everyone involved, although not a surprise.
“We need to ensure that the UK maintains sufficient slaughter capacity so that, as the sector recovers, it is able to expand and thrive into the future.”