Del Monte has admitted defeat and decided to close its prepared salads factory in Methwold, Norfolk, at the end of the month with the loss of 250 jobs.
"We've not made any money since we bought the site four years ago," said the UK md Peter Miller. "During the time there wasn't much that could be done because of the over-capacity."
He said that although other firms had bought salad companies with the intention of closing them and removing the surplus capacity, that was not the case with Methwold, which was bought from the Albert Fisher Group in 2002.
As part of the purchase, Del Monte also acquired a prepared fruit plant in Wisbech and a dressed salads factory in York, both of which were thriving, claimed Miller.
"Hopefully, some of the staff will be employed at other sites," he said.