70 jobs to go as clothing manufacturer plans UK exit

Up to 70 jobs are set to be lost after clothing manufacturer Fruit of the Loom announced plans to close its operations in Telford.

The company said it plans to close the head office and distribution centre and relocate to Europe and north Africa.

In a statement, the US company said the move is an “effort to optimise its supply chain” and not a reflection of the “hard work of our employees”.

The company said the cuts are “a necessity to streamline operations in a highly competitive marketplace”, but added its workers will be supported.

Fruit of the Loom anticipates its UK operations will cease by the end 2018.

Fruit of the Loom was founded in 1851 by two brothers in Rhode Island, USA and the company now employs more than 32,000 people worldwide.

On its website the company says: “Our roots may be in America, but Fruit of the Loom has been well established in Europe for over 30 years and our European business is at the heart of our international growth plans for the future.”

As well as its Telford HQ, the company has a large distribution centre in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

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