Jobs axed at Bowyers (From Wiltshire Times)

Jobs axed at Bowyers

2:12pm Tuesday 16th January 2007 in Trowbridge

JOBS are being axed at Pork Farm Bowyers in Trowbridge it has been announced today.

Employees at the firm were told this morning that 50 posts would be lost at the Stallard Street factory as part of changes planned for the next four to five months.

Vision Capital Funds bought Northern Foods' chilled pastry, speciality bread and flour milling division, incorporating Pork Farm Bowyers, last year.

The sale has been completed and Vision Capital Funds has ordered a shake-up of the business.

The company confirmed that production of some cold pie and fried foods lines would be transferred to another supplier, but other cold pie lines have been transferred to Trowbridge from a factory in Palethorpes, Shropshire.

The remaining fried food lines made in Trowbridge will be transferred to Shaftesbury, Dorset.

A statement from the firm said: "It is proposed, therefore, to consolidate the Trowbridge operation into two of the three buildings currently in use.

"If the proposals go ahead, a reduction of around 50 support roles is anticipated in Trowbridge.

"We very much regret the need for any redundancies and every effort will be made to assist those affected.

"The management team are committed to communicating regularly with all employees during this period of change. It is the aim to develop the business and this reorganisation of production is aimed at securing profitable growth."