New streamlining Greenery results in more job losses

Over the past year The Greenery BV has recorded a significant improvement of its operating profit, following a reorganisation and the implementation of a stringent chain costs reduction programme. Despite the extremely difficult market conditions and substantially lower price levels in the fresh produce market, the company is expecting to close the 2014 financial year with a significantly improved net result.

Detailed results will be published in the annual report in April. The Greenery expects that 2015 will see a continuation of the difficult and highly volatile market conditions. Under those circumstances, a further simplification of the business model is essential if the company is to return to a solid profitable base in the future. As part of the necessary effort to further control operating costs, the organisational structure will be streamlined, resulting in a loss of 60 to 65 jobs at the company's head office in 2015.

Half of this reduction will be achieved through the termination of temporary employment contracts. This means that no more than approximately 30 permanent contracts will have to be terminated. In 2015 The Greenery launched a project that provides for a system of flexible employment on the basis of new employment contracts, instead of hiring agency staff. The Works Council has since issued a positive opinion on this initiative, and the trade unions have been informed.

The new, lean organisational structure will be finalised in the first quarter of this year. The streamlining process has already started, and the employees have been informed about the changes to the organisation.

For more information, please visit: www.thegreenery.com