Job cuts at Crewe food plant following ‘comprehensive review’

More than 60 jobs have been lost at a Crewe food factory, according to reports.

A source familiar with the situation said 61 jobs have been cut at the former Wrights Food Group pie-making plant in Crewe which was acquired by Nottingham-based Compleat Food Group in December 2021.

It was Compleat’s first acquisition following its creation earlier that year through the merger of Winterbotham Darby and Addo Food Group by owner, Paris-based private equity firm, PAI Partners.

The source said the 61 Crewe jobs had been axed and replaced by agency workers.

However, Compleat said the job losses weren’t as high as has been claimed and no agency workers had been recruited.

In a statement it said: “Following a comprehensive review of the volume at our Crewe site, some redundancies have been made. The majority were voluntary redundancies.”

It added: “The review was required due to changing demand in a competitive trading environment and to ensure we can continue to support the long term sustainable future of the site.

“We worked closely with all employees affected, including meeting on an individual basis to offer positions at other sites along with practical support.”

At the time of the Wrights takeover, Peter Wright, the third generation chairman of the family business, said: “This business has been built on the foundations of family values, quality and providing the best possible service to our customers.

“Our merger with the Compleat Group is a decision which we feel builds on the legacy which the Wrights family has worked so hard to create over 96 years.

“Becoming an integral part of a larger group is good news for everyone involved. We are looking forward to a future of further growth and the natural expansion of our much loved and highly valued Wrights products and brand.”

In November, 2019, Wrights, which had sites in Crewe and Stoke, completed a one-year, £7m investment programme at its manufacturing sites with the support of Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking.

At the time it was making more than 3.5 million savoury products a week and employed around 650 staff.

However, it was badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, particularly its airline operation.

In January this year Compleat confirmed it was in redundancy negotiations with staff at its Tottle bakery in Nottinghamshire following a “comprehensive review of cold pie volume” at the plant.

Reports claim this could result in more than 130 job losses. The firm said the cuts are planned “across several departments at the site”.

A spokesperson added: “This is due to changing demand in a competitive trading environment and to ensure we can continue to support the long term sustainable future of roles at the site.”

The Compleat Food Group says it will not close the factory.