Longbenton Foods has kept us in the dark, claim staff
Employees at the former Findus frozen foods factory were told not to return to work until further notice last Friday, but were not given any formal explanation of what had gone wrong or whether apparent financial problems at the firm were temporary or terminal.
The factory has not been producing any food this week but maintenance staff have been in each day.
Speaking to FoodManufacture.co.uk after reading an interview with Frantzen in the local paper in which he said he was confident – but not certain - the site could be back up and running in eight to 10 days, one employee said that staff had been told “absolutely nothing” about what was going on.
Communication breakdown
He added: “The communication has been appalling. We weren’t told what was going on. We’ve been looking on the web to find out what is going on at our own factory. I was sent home last Friday and told that I could take Monday as holiday or come and do maintenance and cleaning, so I took it as holiday.
“I got in touch with the gatehouse on Monday [February 14] and they said don’t come in tomorrow. I was then told by the finance department that they were in talks with banks, but basically, I have no idea what is going on.
“We were only paid 50% of our wages in January and then got the rest several days later, but I don’t know whether I am going to get paid for work I have already done in February. People don’t know whether to sign on for benefits or to wait because they haven’t actually said anything to us officially.
“That’s what frustrates people. There is clearly something badly wrong and we just want to know where we stand.”
Staff manning the gatehouse at the factory told FoodManufacture.co.uk today (Friday February 18) that managers were in a meeting and were not available for comment.
Problems at Amble site
Longbenton Foods recently hit the headlines over its attempt to buy the former Northumberland Foods factory in Amble out of administration.
While Longbenton paid a deposit before occupying the Amble factory late last year and exchanged contracts in October, administrator Begbies Traynor claims it has not been paid the rest of the money owed, and has closed the site.
A spokeswoman for Begbies Traynor said: "Given Longbenton Foods' continued inability to raise the necessary funding to complete the transaction, it is appropriate to rescind the contract [with Longbenton Foods].
“It is hoped that a purchaser can be found who is able to recommence production in Amble and the administrators are eager to talk to any interested party,” she said.
An auction to sell the assets in the Amble site is scheduled for February 23.
