Arla Foods is today informing employees at its Manchester dairy of its intention to close the dairy and distribution facility at Wythenshawe, Manchester.

Under the proposals, raw milk, currently processed at Manchester, will be transferred to the company’s processing facilities at Ashby, Stourton and Hatfield Peverel.

”Our proposal is based on the thorough review of our production and distribution facilities that we have carried out in line with our strategy of improving our performance in standard milk,” says Lars Dalsgaard, Business Group Director - Supply Chain.

The closure, to be completed by January 2009, is subject to consultation and would result in the loss of around 300 jobs.

Arla Foods is immediately entering into consultation with its Manchester employees and their representatives.

Maxine Morgan, Business Group Director, HR, at Arla Foods, said today: “We very much regret the need to announce today our proposed plans to close our Manchester site. We are committed to giving full support to affected colleagues to help them find alternative employment both internally and externally of Arla Foods, subject to the consultation process.”

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