Doors close on 80 jobs at Del Monte
IT has been an iconic image on the banks of the River Great Ouse for decades, but production at West Lynn's Del Monte factory finally came to an end on Friday, leaving around 80 workers redundant.
The move comes after Del Monte admitted it has found it increasingly difficult to compete in a marketplace which is now dominated by supermarkets' own labels.
The factory on Bankside has produced fruit juices and canned foods for supermarkets across the country, but has been plagued with uncertainty in recent months.
In October the Lynn News reported how staff had been called to a meeting and were told the site could close, and in January bosses finally confirmed production would end this month.
Del Monte's UK managing director Peter Miller said: "There are two things which are important in this situation.
"One is to reiterate that the situation we find ourselves in has absolutely nothing to do with the people who have worked at the factory for many, many years.
"They are not responsible for this, but it is circumstances in the market which are way beyond their control.
"I also have to thank them, on behalf of the company, for their behaviour and attitude since we announced the closure. Their commitment has not wavered."
Mr Miller said a "significant" number of production staff have already found alternative employment in the area and that redundancy packages have been successfully reached.
The future of the site still remains uncertain and Mr Miller insisted Del Monte's focus has been on reaching a settlement with staff and bringing production to an end.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham said the closure was a sad day for the region, but blasted Del Monte bosses for what he believes has been poor treatment of its workers.
He said: "I am not very pleased with Del Monte. I think they have treated staff shabbily and elected representatives shabbily. They did not discuss this with me or the council.
"They have been arrogant and I think West Lynn and the people who have given years of loyal service deserve better.
"Del Monte has been part of Lynn's industrial scene for a long, long time and was practically the first factory I visited in the area.
"I am very concerned about what is happening with our food manufacturing sector.
"Firms in the area are laying off people due to a downturn in business.
"I think consumer habits are changing and people are less interested in buying canned or frozen foods."
Mr Bellingham now believes a housing development would be the obvious future for the site.
He added: "It is brownfield land and presumably, when the site has been cleared, it will be available for housing.I hope any development will be sensitive to the needs of West Lynn but I do not envisage an industrial use for the site."
Del Monte has had links with West Lynn for decades, having been supplied by Lin-Can – the former firm on the site, which was set up in the 1930s and announced its closure in 1986.
Friday's closure is the latest blow in what has been a turbulent few months for Lynn's food manufacturing industry.
In December Lynn's iconic Campbell's factory ended a 50-year association with the town when production lines closed with the loss of 245 jobs.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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