Bernard Matthews closure 'a devastating blow'

The closure of a major food factory in Derby is "a devastating blow", a trade union has said.

Bernard Matthews Foods said on Thursday it would be shutting its processing facility on Shaftesbury Street South by the end of 2026.

About 600 jobs are believed to be affected by the closure, and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) said it was offering support to workers.

Baggy Shanker, the Labour MP for Derby South, said it would be tough for families to learn that the company, famous for its turkey farms and products, would cease operations as many settled down to celebrate Christmas.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said: "This is obviously very sad news for the employees involved and our sympathies go out to everyone facing uncertainty at this time.

"Bernard Matthews has been a part of Derby's business community for many years, and we recognise the important contribution that its workforce has made to the local economy."

In 2016, six years after the death of Bernard Matthews, the company was bought by the founder of the 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan.

Two years ago the company announced proposals to close a factory at its headquarters in Great Witchingham, Norfolk, where Matthews used to live and where he built his empire.

The company said the decision to cease operations in Derby followed continued "significant financial losses" and "a range of external economic challenges and the geopolitical environment", including Brexit, Covid and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Sharon Khiari, Usdaw's area organiser, said it was now focusing "on supporting our members through this very difficult process".

"Confirmation of the closure of the Bernard Matthews site in Derby is a devastating blow for the staff, their families and the wider community," she said.

"We are extremely disappointed that the company has decided to proceed with the closure, despite our attempts to save the site through the consultation."

Shanker said he first learned of potential plans to close the site when he was informed about a consultation process between company bosses and unions representing workers.

"The impact on the workforce and their families can't be overstated, particularly with this closure now being planned just a week or so before Christmas," he said.

"Predominantly this work is being taken to other factories, and that is something I find very difficult - this work has been done here by these workers for a number of years, and the company's made a decision to take the majority of that work to other sites, so I've been challenging that.

"I still think there's serious questions that [are] unanswered, and I continue to work with colleagues at [trade union] Usdaw to make sure that the rights and the impact that this is having on the workers is at the foremost of decisions."

A spokesperson for Bernard Matthews said: "We are a proud British food business committed to providing quality, affordable food, that's better for people and the planet.

"For the past two years, we have urged the government to take urgent action to support the UK's fragile food supply chain.

"Farmers and food producers face rising costs and increasing complexity, which are restricting growth, driving food inflation and undermining the UK's food security.

"Without targeted government action on supply chain resilience, planning and taxation, we fear more farms and food manufacturing sites will close, increasing the UK's reliance on lower-quality imports and weakening food and national security."

According to the company's website, it still runs processing and production sites in Sunderland and in Holton, Suffolk.

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