Gluten-free baker Genius to cut 115 jobs

More than half of staff face redundancy in the Hull facility, the manufacturer reportedly told employees on Monday (April 3). The job cuts would take place before the end of June, it said.

A formal employee consultation was launched, and staff were asked to come forward for voluntary redundancy before compulsory redundancies were made. Genius said there were opportunities for staff to find positions elsewhere within the company.

The gluten-free bakery company said its existing UK facilities would continue to operate, but would focus on its branded products exclusively.

Genius chief executive Jeremy Bradley said: “It is a difficult time for all our staff as these changes are made. We are committed to doing everything possible to support our employees especially those who will be directly affected.   ​

“In order to support our market leading position, we need to simplify and focus on developing and investing in a strong Genius brand. As a result, the company will end production of its non-Genius branded business by the end of the year.”​

The reported redundancies came 15 months after it acquired the frozen pie maker Chapel Foods​ for £3.5M. It acquired Chapel Foods’s Scunthorpe manufacturing facility, and took on 30 extra employees.

Genius was founded in 2009 by Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne. Within four years, it acquired United Central Bakeries’ Bathgate and Hull facilities.

Genius supplies retailers Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, The Co-Op and Ocado. It also supplies retailers in the Republic of Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Germany and Australia.