A consultation period regarding the future of more than 100 staff at a Spalding-based Greenyard Fresh business remains. It is ongoing despite the initial period coming to an end, the company has said.
Workers at Greenyard Fresh UK were told at the start of April that their jobs were at risk as the company was considering closing down the site. It came after the company revealed it was looking at closing the site, used to pack and distribute fruit, as it felt it would be more efficient to operate from its base in Kent, which has been the subject of significant investment.
More than 100 staff members are employed at the Spalding site and a 45-day consultation period was launched as they are at risk of redundancy. That deadline has since passed, but the company says the consultation period remains ongoing. A spokesperson said: “We are continuing to work through the consultation, with a further two to three weeks of process to be undertaken.”
Greenyard has said that a final decision cannot be made until the consultation is complete. Previously the company said it would do its utmost to ensure that as many colleagues as possible are supported in finding alternative employment within the area.
Explaining its decision in April, the company said: “The expansion of the site, infrastructure and team in Kent, as well as the experience gained in managing high volumes of fruit, both during the UK season but also during the southern hemisphere import season, has given GYFRUK the confidence to evaluate the most efficient method to pack and distribute apples and pears to the retail customer base.”
Lincolnshirelive.co.uk further quoted the company as saying: “Following a period of investigation, the Directors of GYFRUK have reached the decision that operating from two large sites does not deliver efficiencies and cost benefits required in a competitive retail environment. It is therefore proposed that GYFRUK close the Enterprise Way site in Spalding. The impact of this decision will mean establishing BFL as the main packing hub for all GY apple and pear activities.”
