Western Daily Press (Saturday)
West pasty maker to axe 66 jobs as input costs rise
WEST Country pasty firm Warrens Bakery is to axe 66 staff at its food production factories as it faces a “challenging economic climate”.
The firm, which employs about 500 people, called workers to a meeting to break the news and a spokesman confirmed the job losses as part of a “restructuring exercise” needed because the company is facing increased input costs.
Warrens is Cornwall’s oldest commercial pasty maker, set up in St Just in 1860.
It has grown to become the largest chain of bakeries in the South West with more than 50 retail outlets across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.
The job losses would be spread between the St Just headquarters in
Cornwall and its large bakery in Belliver, Plymouth.
A spokesman said: “Warrens Bakery is undertaking a restructuring exercise to drive efficiencies in its distribution and manufacturing activities.
“These changes will stabilise the manufacturing business, while creating an improved platform for its successful retail stores within a challenging economic climate.
“Regrettably, 66 staff within production and distribution have been placed at risk of redundancy.”
He added: “I can’t confirm a split but I can confirm the St Just and Plymouth sites will both be affected.”
The firm, which had a 2018 turnover of £16.2million, said that about 495 employees will be kept within the reorganised company, while the retail arm, which has stores throughout the region, will remain unaffected.
The spokesman added: “We’ve taken time to explore all options systematically and concluded that this is unavoidable to ensure a stable future for the overall business and its wider workforce.
“Change can be hard, but it’s vital we are fit for purpose in a challenging manufacturing sector, where raw materials, transport and other costs have risen significantly.
“These measures will ensure that Warrens Bakery remains focused, healthy and a vibrant part of the UK bakery scene going forward.”
The company has recently opened its first bakery in Northern Ireland in Belfast. It has been voted Cornwall’s favourite pasty maker by the public in four independent radio and newspaper polls, won The World Pasty Championship and picked up a Highly Commended honour and a gold award at The 2016 British Pie Awards.
Alongside pasties, it also produces a range of savouries, breads, cakes, scones and sweet bakery products. In February 2017 it launched its first vegan pasties on the back of a huge surge in people giving up meat and dairy produce.
The Warrens spokesman added: “The Warrens Bakery retail brand continues to thrive locally through its owned stores and nationally, through its ever-growing franchise arm.”