UK – Tulip Limited, a leading meat processor in the UK has unveiled plans of closing its Bodmin site with 270 roles at risk of redundancy.

The company said that the site was operating at a significant loss for several years while adding that it was unsustainable to maintain operations under the existing business model.

Tulip has now initiated a 45-day consultation over proposals to cease production at the site. The consultation period is expected to end on before the close of the year.

The company said that the closure is not a foregone conclusion and is hence seeking to galvanize employees, customers and suppliers to coming together to agree a viable plan for the sustainable future of the site. ​

​However, unless we can secure a joint recovery plan with our strategic partners and employees, we cannot continue to operate while making such significant losses,” the company said in a statement.

“Therefore, we have begun a 45-day consultation process over proposals to cease production at the site, potentially putting 270 roles at risk of redundancy. We expect the consultation period to end on 9th December 2019.”

Tulip currently operates 12 factories across the UK, supplying top retail and foodservice customers. The latest job cut proposals at Bodmin follow the announcement last year of 150 job losses at the factory.

The company was recently acquired by Pilgrim’s Pride, a meat processing company controlled by Brazil’s largest meat producer, JBS from Danish Crown in a transaction valued at £290 million (US$353.79 million).

The transaction solidifies Pilgrim’s as a leading European food company, creating one of the largest integrated prepared foods businesses in the UK with a portfolio of brands and retail private label solutions.

Pilgrim’s employs more than 51,400 people and operates chicken processing and prepared foods facilities in 14 US states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the UK and continental Europe. The company’s primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors.