More food job losses at factory

There could be as many as 16 redundancies this week at a food factory producing onion rings in Wisbech.

Employees of the frozen food factory 'Fountain Frozen' were informed by the business Director that redundancies are likely as the first quarter of 2011 comes to a close.

The factory in Salters way is due to undergo changes that will make the site more modern and up to date, which is likely to reduce the need for human labour. The new factory will receive significant investment meaning that packaging machines can be operated by a single employee as opposed to a number of staff working on a production line.

Employees who work across all three shifts at the factory could be at risk, as the company looks to reduce employment at all levels and shift patterns.

The factory machinery upgrade has been long due and it required to be able to better compete within the market place. Plans to upgrade the machinery have been debated for over three years since the factory was bought from the food manufacturing giant Kerry Foods.

Whilst job losses are a difficult thing to deal with, the site Director insists that the machinery upgrade and redundancies are vital to success of the business and will help in ensuring Fountain Frozen's blue chip customers continue to use them as a supplier.

The food company, that supplies Tesco, Sainsbury's and Burger King, has regrettably informed staff of the potential redundancies and has discussed the necessity of them in light of staying in business in the future. Making a few staff redundant with a view to saving more jobs is a move that can only be praised, especially when operating as a small manufacturing business competing against the much larger, blue chip manufacturing giants.