Dutch meat processor and ready-meals maker Van Loon Group plans to close a pork plant in the new year.
The Roosendaal facility, run by the company’s Best Star Meat business division, will permanently shutter its doors at the end of March. Production and logistical operations will be relocated to other Van Loon sites, starting from the 1 January.
In a statement posted on LinkedIn, family-owned Van Loon said the sales, livestock and support functions at Roosendaal will be transferred to its sites in Son of Best from 1 July.
“This decision is the result of a thorough evaluation of current market conditions and the need to improve operational efficiency,” Eindhoven-headquartered Van Loon said.
Group CEO Robert van Ballegooijen added: “The production location in Roosendaal has contributed to the success of Best Star Meat Pork for many years.
“However, in a shrinking and highly competitive pig market, it is a requirement to continue to organise the supply chain and the production process as efficiently as possible.
“This is necessary in order to guarantee the continuity and competitive position of Best Star Meat Pork and also to be able to continue to invest in making our chains more sustainable.”
Van Loon, which operates through 11 business divisions across pork and beef, ready meals and plant-based options for retail, foodservice and B2B customers, has not specified how many jobs will be cut as a result of the Roosendaal plant closure.
The facility processes pork for the company’s in-house divisions and also supplies “industrial customers, according to its website.
Van Loon said: “The closure of the location in Roosendaal obviously has an impact on the employees involved. Best Star Meat Pork takes its responsibility in this regard and, together with the Joint Works Council, has drawn up an extensive package of social provisions.
“The primary goal of this plan is 'from job-to-job' and also offers support in this process through personal training and consultations.”
Just Food has asked for clarification on the staff numbers involved and for more detail on the competitive landscape in pork.
However, Van Loon’s pork processing peers have also been facing challenges, including Danish Crown and Vion Food Group.
Earlier this month, Danish Crown announced around 500 jobs would go, revealing the business was “in the midst of a crisis” due to a decrease in slaughter pigs and escalating costs.
Other worker cuts and closures have previously been announced, including at Danish Crown’s Ringsted site in April.
Meanwhile, Netherlands-based Vion is in the process of exiting the German pork market and closing processing sites as it diverts attention to the Benelux countries.
Vion turned to a loss last year because of impairments incurred from the change in strategy.
