Bernard Matthews blames job losses on input costs

In a statement issued to FoodManufacture.co.uk, the company said: “​Bernard Matthews Farms announces that it has begun a staff consultation process with its workforce at its Great Witchingham cooked meat site, which is expected to result in a reduction of approximately 55 employees out of a workforce of 2,100.”​

Bernard Matthews’ human resources director, Andrew Sherwood, said: “As a company, we are under intense pressure from external cost factors, such as the global price of grain. As a result, we are constantly looking at ways of making the business better able to cope with the challenging and highly competitive economic environment. These structural changes are part of this process, as we continue to make the business as efficient as possible and ensure a sustainable future for the whole workforce.” ​

‘Cause a degree of uncertainty’​

“We have entered into consultation with affected staff, which may cause a degree of uncertainty for these individuals. To minimise this it is our intention to provide regular information updates throughout the process.”​

The union Unite described the job losses as “a blow to the rural economy”​.

Unite regional officer Ivan Crane said: “These jobs are under threat because of a company restructuring exercise. We are in talks with the management so that any redundancies are either voluntary or that employees can be redeployed within the company.​

“This is a blow to employment in Norfolk’s economy, at a time when finding jobs is difficult in the county – and throughout rural East Anglia.”​

A blow to employment​

Unite represents the 35 process workers under threat at the site. Also under threat are 12 managers and eight engineers who are not covered by Unite’s collective agreement, unlike the process workers.

Bernard Matthews is the UK’s largest turkey farmer and producer of turkey products. It supplies own-label products to many of the multiple grocery retailers and foodservice providers.

In April this year restrictions were imposed on movements in and out of one of its poultry farms in Suffolk after a strain of bird flu​ was detected.

Tests by officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural affairs returned negative results for the H5 and H7 forms of bird flu, which can be transmitted to humans.