Loss-making bread firm cuts 71 jobs

BREADMAKERS Hovis announced yesterday it will close its main mill and sell two other mills with the loss of 71 jobs.

The Southampton site will shut and flour supplier Whitworth Bros will buy the mills at Manchester and Selby.

Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union regional secretary Geoff Atkinson said: “The announcement comes out of the blue.”

Announcing results for the year to December 31, 2017, Hovis suffered a loss after tax of £11.7million.

Nish Kankiwala, CEO of Hovis Ltd, said: “We firmly believe this is the right decision for the business.”