McCain Foods plans to cut 74 jobs

The food manufacturer said the cold store operation at the site was coming to the end of its “serviceable life”​, and had to outsource production to a third-party “to ensure the long-term sustainability of the overall facilities in Scarborough”​.

The proposed changes would affect 75 members of staff (hourly and salary paid), McCain confirmed.

‘No longer remains economically viable’​

“Built over 45 years ago, the cold store at the McCain Scarborough site is coming to the end of its serviceable life and no longer remains economically viable to maintain and operate,”​ said McCain Foods’s corporate affairs director Bill Bartlett.

“Following a review of both cold and dry store requirements on site, the company proposes, subject to consultation, to close the Scarborough stores in their current format over the coming months.”​

Some roles would be maintained as part of an integrated stores operation, McCain said. But it was entering into talks with staff because roles kept on would be “at a much reduced level”​, Bartlett said.

“During the consultation, all employees will continue to be treated with fairness and respect, and McCain will offer professional advice and guidance to those affected, including access to an outplacement programme to assist in identifying alternative employment,” ​Bartlett added.

‘Alternative employment’​

McCain will continue to explore ways to improve capacity at its Scarborough site, Bartlett said.

“This proposal, subject to consultation, may also present options to alleviate some of the space constraints within the site,”​ he said.

There are currently 736 employees at McCain’s Scarborough site, the manufacturer said.

Meanwhile, high street baker Greggs could cut up to 220 jobs​ in Wales and Scotland, it was revealed last week (January 25). Greggs planned to restructure its Clydesmill, South Lanarkshire bakery into a distribution hub, putting 100 jobs at risk, a union said.