Hovis looking to slice more than 100 jobs
WORKERS at a Hovis bakery in Wigan have been hit with fresh woes after the firm says it was looking to cut more than 100 jobs.
The nature of the cuts is expected to affect about half the workforce, including factory floor workers, engineers and office staff. The announcement follows the loss of 40 jobs in July.
It is understood the first redundancies will come into effect from March and Hovis blamed the cuts on falling demand.
Geoff Atkinson, regional secretary at the Bakery and Allied Food Workers’ Union (BFAWU), said: “It has come completely out of the blue. We lost 40 staff there in July and we thought that would be it for the time being… I’m shocked and devastated.”
Simon Devereux, chief operations officer, said: “As part of an ongoing review of our supply chain, we have identified a need to streamline two key areas.
“Firstly, to align bread production with the forecasted reduction in demand, we are proposing the closure of the line at our Wigan Bakery, placing 111 roles at risk.
“The crumpet production line and logistics operation at the Wigan site will continue to operate as today.”
Hovis is co-owned by British manufacturer Premier Foods and US investment firm The Gores Group, The Hovis brand can trace its roots back to 1886 when a company in Macclesfield, S Fitton & Sons, patented a flour which was rich in wheat germ.
