M&S accused over Vion

Marks & Spencer (M&S) has come under fire over its decision to phase out around 50% of the products that it sources from Vion's site in Cambuslang, which Vion claims has resulted in significant job losses.

The Unite union said that the volume would be transferred into other companies with sites in England. Products include chicken and turkey ready meals and deli products, which have been produced at Cambuslang for over 20 years.

Unite blamed the 150 job losses on M&S wanting to produce food at a "lower cost". Its comments came as the union lashed out at the retailer, last week, as one of M&S's suppliers, Tulip International, proposed to close a site at Bromborough. A union representative said that it was "another example of retailers putting pressure on manufacturers to produce cheaper food"

A spokesman for M&S argued: "Manufacturers' plans to cut jobs have nothing to do with us. We have no say in how they run their business. But it's no big secret that everyone is looking at ways of becoming more efficient."

Vion also announced plans to restructure its abattoir and sliced cooked meat operations at its Malton plant in Yorkshire and Haverhill plant in Suffolk. Around 200 jobs are to go at Malton and 470 in Haverhill. These sites do not supply M&S.