100 jobs threatened at fruit plant

Employees have been told the firm, which distributes bananas, bananitos and pineapples to top retailers, is commencing a business restructure that will lead to a reduction in its workforce of approximately 100 staff. 

The GMB, representing members at the Luton site in Laporte Way, said it was seeking talks with SH Pratt to determine if pressure from major multiple retailers lay behind the restructuring.

“This is terrible news for the workers involved and for Luton’s economy,”​ said GMB regional officer Sue Hackett. “The total possible job losses could be 117. We will do everything we can to minimise the job losses.”​

‘Changing market conditions’​

Commenting on the plans to axe jobs, announced yesterday afternoon (October 8), SH Pratt operations director David Bateman told FoodManufacture.co.uk the company was currently acting as lead banana service provider to Morrisons, but it had decided to handle banana ripening internally.

This had been one of the reasons for proposing the restructure, he said. “Morrisons traditionally packs a lot of its products in-house, but until now they haven’t done so with bananas.​

“They had the opportunity to buy a banana ripening facility in Lincolnshire and the transition from Luton to Boston will be complete by November 23.”​

Morrisons’ banana ripening facility​

Morrisons revealed at the end of July that it had acquired a banana ripening factory at Boston in Lincolnshire from Del Monte as part of a joint venture with Global Pacific. The facility would create 80 new jobs, it said.

In a statement about the proposed job losses at SH Pratt, Bateman said: “Today’s very unfortunate news is no reflection on our employees’ excellent work over many years.”​

“We’re deeply sorry about the effect this will have upon some of our employees and we will do everything possible to support all of our people during this difficult time.​

‘Prospects remain strong’​

“Following the completion of this restructure, our long term business prospects remain strong. We will continue to be one of Luton’s leading employers for many years to come.”​

SH Pratt said it was looking at ways to minimise the impact of the change and would consult all affected employees in the process.

SH Pratt’s services include supplying conventional, Fairtrade and organic bananas and it has a ripening capacity of 3,900 pallets.