Carpet firm Brintons to axe 70 jobs

About 70 jobs are being axed at Kidderminster carpet firm Brintons, it was announced today, weeks after its takeover by a US investment group.

Most of the jobs are being cut among the office staff in Kidderminster. The firm today blamed worsening economic conditions for its need to cut its costs.

Battling to get back into profit, the company is also planning to close its historic Exchange Street site by the end of November, merging its three existing sites into two.

Brintons employs 1,700 people worldwide, 700 in the UK. A total of 75 people will lose their jobs throughout the whole business.

Brintons managing director Don Coates said today: "We deeply regret the loss of any jobs but these steps are necessary to reduce our costs in light of worsening economic conditions and return the company to profitability. To compete effectively in the global market, we need to change the way we do business – we need to deliver more with less."