300 jobs to go as McBride axes factory

PERSONAL care and household cleaning products manufacturer McBride is planning to close its site in Burnley in an efficiency drive which will cost hundereds of jobs.

The closure nexy March will affect 350 people – 300 full time workers and 50 temporary staff. Production at the site, on Windermere Avenue in the town, will be moved to other company facilities in the region including Middleton, McBride said. 

In a statement the group said: “A number of factors have influenced these proposals, most significantly the extremely challenging economic and trading environment and the need to drive down our cost base and improve our operational efficiency to remain competitive.

“All options are being explored, however, the Burnley site is constrained in terms of physical space and offers no scope for the expansion that would be required to absorb other sites.”

“Formal consultation has begun with the Works Council on the proposals. Should the proposals go ahead every effort will be made to provide the employees affected with a full programme of support and where possible redeployment opportunities will be explored.

Chris Bull, McBride chief executive of McBride said: “The proposals announced y have been made with considerable regard to the personal impacts they will have and we will do everything we can to mitigate the effects.

“However, the challenging economic climate that we are facing means that in order to become more competitive and retain our market leading position it is essential that we explore ways to reduce our costs and improve the efficiency of our business.”

McBride, which has owned the Burnley site since 1973 is a leading pricer of own-label products for major retailers.