The Compleat Food Group is making redundancies at a pie-making factory in north-west England, just weeks after plans for job cuts were announced at another UK facility.
The news of the latest round of redundancies was brought to Just Food by a source familiar with the matter.
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The source claimed 61 positions have been axed at The Compleat Food Group’s factory in Crewe and that agency workers had been brought in as replacements. The company would not confirm the number of job losses but a spokesperson said it was fewer than 61 and said “no agency workers are working in the impacted bakery”.
In a statement, The Compleat Food Group said: “Following a comprehensive review of the volume at our Crewe site, some redundancies have been made. The majority were voluntary redundancies.”
It added: “The review was required due to changing demand in a competitive trading environment and to ensure we can continue to support the long-term sustainable future of the site. We worked closely with all employees affected, including meeting on an individual basis to offer positions at other sites along with practical support.”
The Compleat Food Group was formed in 2021 when private-equity owner – Paris-headquartered PAI Partners – merged its UK portfolio companies Winterbotham Darby and Addo Food Group, which it had bought the year before.
The group’s portfolio includes baked goods such as pies and quiches, sausages and deli items including olives, antipasti and pickles.
Its brands include Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, Squeaky Bean, Unearthed and Vadasz.
The Compleat Food Group took over the Crewe factory when it acquired family-owned pie maker Wrights Food Group in late 2021, its first deal.
In January, it was announced the company had drawn up plans to reduce the number of jobs at a pie-making facility in Nottingham in England’s east Midlands.
The Compleat Food Group said it had entered into discussions over possible redundancies and that up to 131 roles were at risk at the Tottle Bakery which manufactures branded and private-label products.
A company spokesperson said the move was the result of a “comprehensive review of cold pie volume” at the site.
In September, The Compleat Food Group snapped up UK speciality food business Harvey & Brockless, which produces and distributes cheeses, charcuterie, olives and deli products to hotels, restaurants, farm shops, delicatessens and food manufacturers.
According to The Compleat Food Group’s website, it has 12 sites at ten locations in the UK.
