As shoppers switched to more fashionable lines such as sushi and flatbreads, the site has taken on a variety of roles. These have included section leaders, process controllers and general operatives as well as human resources and technical employees.
“Summer is traditionally a peak time for our chilled foods operation, but this year we have seen an unprecedented demand for categories such as sushi and sandwiches from our customers," said divisional md Veepul Patel.
“Some of our operations with these categories are quite labour intensive, and we have to ensure quality, presentation and volumes are absolutely spot on. These extra workers will certainly help us to achieve our objectives.”
Employs more than 1,400 people
“The site at Gunstones employs more than 1,400 and was acquired by 2 Sisters from previous owner Northern Foods in April 2011.
“The Gunstones family started a business in 1862 and they went on to open their first bakery in Sheffield in 1925. In 1950 they built a factory at the current site in Dronfield, which makes a variety of bread rolls, hot cross buns, iced buns and garlic bread.”
The chilled foods factory manufactures sandwiches, rolls and sushi.
Llangefni
In April, 2 Sisters announced the potential creation of 200 jobs at its Welsh chicken processing site at Llangefni, Anglesey, through the creation of a second shift there. The site is one of the factories 2 Sisters Food Group bought from rival meat processor Vion in March.
However, union rep Des Quinn, regional officer for Unite, told FoodManufacture.co.uk at the end of May that 2 Sisters had issued collective redundancy notices for staff at its West Midlands factories.
There have been disputes at four of the five sites in the region over working practices.