UK – World’s largest pork processor, Pilgrim Pride Corp, has announced the closure proposal of its pork abattoir in Ashton, Manchester, risking over 500 jobs for its staff.

According to Rachel Baldwin, Pilgrim’s UK’s vice president of human resources, the decision to propose the site’s closure has not been taken lightly, and the company has made every effort to explore alternative options.

“The proposal is unfortunately essential to ensure a sustainable future for our team members across the UK by creating the best structure for its long-term growth and development, while ‘mitigating the current unfavorable market conditions in the UK,” she said.

However, the closure of the 70-year-old site would put all 542 Ashton staff, at all levels, at risk of redundancy, despite creating 90 additional roles split between Westerleigh, Spalding, and Bromborough.

A report from the company assured that full support and guidance will be provided to anyone at risk of redundancy, including support in seeking alternative roles both inside and outside of the Pilgrim’s UK organization.

It also pledged to work closely with the site team and customers to ensure we maintain quality and service levels throughout the process.

On the other hand, National Pig Association chief executive Lizzie Wilson said that with the breeding herd down 25% in two years and slaughter numbers dropping 20% year on year, this news was disappointing for everyone involved, although not a surprise.

“We need to ensure that the UK maintains sufficient slaughter capacity so that as the sector recovers, it can expand and thrive into the future,” Lizzie added.

The initial phase of Pilgrim’s UK’s footprint review included the closure of its Coalville site and the imminent closure of the Bury St Edmunds site, as well as the introduction of a four-day week at Ashton in September 2022

The Ashton site lost its China export license in 2021, while the pig processing sector had to address capacity as the size of the UK pig herd and, therefore, weekly pig throughputs decline.

Pilgrim’s said the UK pork sector continues to face the most significant challenges in its history, with the UK sow herd having contracted by around 15% and loss-making farmers leaving the industry due to a sustained period of high production costs and lower pig prices.

At the same time, an increasing and ongoing reliance in the UK on cheaper, lower welfare imports from the EU and post-pandemic recovery challenges within certain markets has negatively impacted UK production.

Pilgrim’s UK has also recently restructured its management team, following the departures of agricultural director Barney Kay and pig supply chain director Mark Haighton.

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