Jobs risk at Fox’s factory

MORE than 1,000 jobs are at risk at the Fox’s biscuit factory in Batley.

Northern Foods, which owns the site, has announced plans to invest £40m in a new factory and will close one of two sites which will be combined.

The Batley site employees 1,280 people whilst the Uttoxeter site in Staffordshire employs 950 staff.

The third factory, at Kirkham, Lancashire, will remain open.

Northern Foods said the new super site would be created at either Batley or Uttoxeter by 2011 but it had not yet decided which site to close.

Employees at the site which is closed will be offered jobs at the successful site a spokesman said.

A period of consultation has begun with regional development agencies, local councils and unions and a decision will be announced early next year, a spokeswoman said.

Northern Foods said both factories were “relatively old” and needed “significant investment.”

Chief executive Stefan Barden said: “We intend to invest in a state-of-the-art biscuit factory, the best in the UK, specially designed to manufacture Fox’s great biscuits efficiently. The resulting cost savings will ensure that even more money is available to invest in and grow the business, securing its future for yet another generation. We appreciate this will be a difficult period for our loyal and hard-working employees. Excitement will be mixed with apprehension but we will ensure they are kept fully informed of any and all developments during the period.”