Walkers’ Lancashire factory set for production boost

A Walkers crisp factory site in Skelmersdale could be in for a boost after it was announced that Walkers is to close its Peterlee, County Durham, site.

Walkers owner PepsiCo said 355 jobs would be lost with production moving to the company’s other sites in Leicester, Lincoln, Coventry and Skelmersdale.

Tracey Foster, Peterlee manufacturing director at PepsiCo UK said: “We appreciate that this is very difficult news for everyone at the Peterlee site.

“We would like to emphasise that this decision in no way reflects the performance of our colleagues at Peterlee and we remain very grateful for their hard work and commitment.

“Efficiency savings are crucial for ensuring the long-term sustainable growth of our business in the UK.”

PepsiCo first announced in March that it was in consultations to shut the Peterlee plant. The firm confirmed it was still in talks with subsidiary PRDC Transport over 23 jobs linked to the crisp factory.

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