Crisp factory to shut down
Workers facing redundancy at a Wednesbury crisp factory today said they were told the factory will shut for good by the end of 2011, with the loss of hundreds of jobs.
Meetings were held at Red Mill Snack Foods Ltd in Globe Street, where staff say it emerged that production will end in two years, with half of the factory set to wind down by the end of next year.
The factory, which produces Transform-A-Snack crisps and Mr Porky pork scratchings, is owned by Tayto Group which is moving production to its base in Corby.
Some of the 300 employees have been told there will be opportunities available to them at the Northamptonshire plant. Red Mill had been the subject of a review after losing a lucrative contract to produce Pringles Minis.
Redundancies had originally been expected to start in February but were put on hold as plans for the move were finalised.
One worker, who did not want to be named, said after today's meeting: "It was about redundancies. They have come up with a plan to close the whole factory in late 2011. Half of the factory will close late 2010." He said staff in the administration department will be the first to go. The company declined to comment.
