Over 100 jobs are to go at a Wiveliscombe abattoir in the area’s biggest redundancy blow since the closure of the Co-op depot in Wellington
Karro Food Group is planning to axe 113 jobs and end its pork slaughter and butchery operations. The company has entered into a consultation process with employees and trade union Unite after the completion of a strategic review into the business.
It plans to continue with the curing and food service operations employing 18 people at the plant.
Chief executive Seamus Carr said: “We have reached this stage extremely reluctantly, and only after ruling out all other options. We will work with all impacted employees to help them through this process and, wherever possible, find opportunities for them to transfer to other sites.
“Sadly, our Wiveliscombe slaughter and butchery operation simply does not have the necessary scale to operate profitably and so we must propose this change in order to ensure our continued viability and growth, and safeguard other jobs across our business.”
Karro only bought the Wiveliscombe slaughterhouse only nine months ago as part of a management buy-out of Vion UK’s pork operations.