Dozens of jobs lost weeks before Christmas after packaging firm sale

Nicholl Food Packaging went into administration in July this year after 30 years of trading.

It was sold a month later and administrators Grant Thornton said all 92 jobs at the manufacturer and supplier of aluminium foil containers had been saved.

However all positions have now gone, and the site, on Wyrley Brook Retail Park, in Walkmill Lane, has closed.

The firm was sold for an undisclosed amount to Euro Packaging Group subsidiary Coppice Alupack, which is based in Bridgend but originally started in Kidderminster.

Coppice Alupack managing director, Sara Thomas, confirmed the Cannock factory had closed with the manufacturing assets transferred to South Wales.

She said: "It was only the assets that were acquired. A consultation period was entered into with employees at the time."

She added that she was not prepared to comment further on the details or the number of jobs that had been lost.

Cannock Chase District Council leader, Councillor George Adamson said it was "dreadful news" to hear jobs have been lost so close to Christmas.

Councillor Adamson said: "News like this is bad at any time of year, but so close to Christmas is just dreadful.

"Ninety two jobs is a lot of jobs to go.

"As a council we will do everything we can to try and help, and work with the DWP, the employers and employees to help people find new jobs.

"And we can work with other employers too to see if there is anything they can do.

"It's such a shame to see Cannock lose a business as well.

"We had been successful recently in attracting new businesses to the area, and this reverses that trend.

"Hopefully this is a one off and will not be repeated. It's really not good at all."