Food jobs axed at Devon frozen food factory

The former employees of a food manufacturing facility in Okehampton, Devon have demanded further explanation from the factory's new owners as to whether the company has plans to re employ any of the ex-staff.

The food factory that produced frozen food products went into administration in February 2011, making over 230 people redundant. Devonshire Desserts were quick to snap up the closed factory, and have provided a small number of its own employees to keep the site running.

The factories ex-employees have been told it could be anything up to two weeks before they hear about any chances for re-employment. The factory was the source of income for a number of families in the area; a number of the workers were partners and had other generations working in the business.

The new owners are keen the make the factory profitable and are therefore conducting a thorough analysis. Sadly, this could mean that in the interests of profit, a number of the jobs, if any, will not be available for re-employment.

The closure at this frozen food factory site has brought the food industry unemployment rate to a high level, of over 300 people, as Robert Wiseman Dairies also closed one of their Devon factories early in the month, making just fewer than 70 people redundant.