Closure of bakery puts jobs at risk

Forty jobs in Heywood are likely to go with the closure of the William Lusty bakery.

Owners McCambridge has announced the closure of two of its factories as part of its strategy to streamline the business.

Group commercial director Neil Fraser said William Lusty, in Fir Street, which produces slab cakes, has “physical constraints which do not facilitate economic growth”. Lisa Bakery, in Oldham, which predominately manufactures Swiss and mini rolls, is also in danger for the same reasons.

Both were acquired by the Dublin-based McCambridge Group in July 2007 when Inter Link Foods was bought out of administration.

“It is proposed to transfer the production at these sites to other North West-based manufacturing facilities within the Own Label division of the McCambridge Group,” said Mr Fraser.

He added: “We are not walking away from these products, we are just going to move them, and obviously this will require staffing at the other sites.”

Admitting that there will be some jobs at risk, Mr Fraser said it was too early to state how many.

The equivalent of around 40 full-time staff are employed at William Lusty, and 65 at Lisa Bakery.

The firm will now enter into consultations with the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union, and its employees on the proposals, which are expected to last a minimum of 30 days.