Food manufacturer Bakkavor intends to close Freshcook facility in UK

UK-based fresh prepared food producer Bakkavor is reportedly planning to close its Freshcook facility in Holbeach St Marks, England, by the end of April.

The Freshcook site is said to be running losses and is no longer commercially viable.

As part of the closure procedure, the company is said to have initiated a 45-day consultation period with its 680 employees working at the facility.

Bakkavor also offered the 520 weekly paid staff members jobs at its other Lincolnshire sites, in Boston and Spalding.

A Bakkavor spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we are commencing a 45-day consultation to propose the closure of our Freshcook site at Holbeach St Marks. As part of this proposal, we will be consulting with all of the employees based at the site.

“The management team has explored a number of different options to improve the performance of the site but has concluded that Freshcook is no longer commercially viable.

“If this proposal goes ahead, we are confident that we can offer the weekly paid employees alternative operational roles across our other Lincolnshire sites and we will make every effort to relocate other employees impacted wherever possible within Bakkavor Group.”

In another development, the freshly prepared food producer is planning to further expand its presence in the Chinese market by building a factory in the region.

Last year, the company is said to have opened three facilities in China, out of which one factory is located in Shanghai, which is currently reported to be at the early stage of the production phase and will be producing salad and food-to-go products.

Additionally, the company is reported to have completed an investment of $4m in a new bread facility near Shanghai and £3m for on new facility, which is located in Chengdu, Western China.