Twelve jobs go in Iceland closure

A Cannock frozen food store was today preparing to close its doors for good with the loss of 12 jobs.

Iceland made the announcement last night that almost all the workers at the Rumer Hill store will be made redundant.

Just two out of the 14 members of staff will be kept on to work elsewhere.

Iceland, which is situated within the former Kwik Save store that closed in 2007, will be demolished after it closes for the final time today.

It will be replaced by a Netto store on the Surrey Close site in the near future. The supermarket will be around 800sq ft smaller than the current 12,000sq ft building and the current positions of the shop and car park will be swapped.

Iceland spokeswoman Pauline Begley issued a statement which read: "Iceland will open 50 new shops this calendar year and as part of this process we are continually reviewing our store estate.

"The lease has expired on this particular store in Cannock and we will not be renewing due to the fact the we have another store in town. Unfortunately there will be 12 redundancies from the 14 members of staff."

The branch has been trading for more than 20 years. Iceland bosses had previously said staff would be re-deployed "where possible". Netto has built a reputation for discount prices and currently has more than 190 stores across the UK.

The Danish-owned company first opened a branch in Leeds in 1990.

Iceland has another store in Cannock town centre, in Market Place, which opened in 1989 and created 25 jobs in the town. The company says it has no plans to close the Cannock town centre branch.

By Chris Gorman