First Milk

Type
Closure
Country
United Kingdom
Region
Wales; North Wales; Flintshire and Wrexham
Location of affected unit(s)
Wrexham
Sector
Manufacturing
(10 - 11) Manufacture of food and beverage
10.5 - Manufacture of dairy products and edible ice
10.5 - Manufacture of dairy products and edible ice
231 jobs
Number of planned job losses
Job loss
Announcement Date
15 October 2013
Employment effect (start)
31 May 2014
Foreseen end date

Description

Dairy firm First Milk announced plans to close its cheese packing plant in Wrexham by the end of May 2014, with a loss of 231 jobs. According to the sources, the consultation process has been initiated.

As reported, the move followed the loss of a large contract with supermarket giant ASDA. The company considered scaling down its operations, but the overheads on the large site were too high for this option to be viable. It supplies dairy products to UK and international markets. The company is unique in the UK market as it is the only dairy company wholly owned by British farmers. 

Updated, 17-12-2013: As reported the consultation process has been concluded.

Sources

  • 17 December 2013: Daily Post
  • 15 October 2013: BBC (online)

Citation

Eurofound (2013), First Milk, Closure in United Kingdom, factsheet number 76378, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/restructuring-events/detail/76378.