UK-based 2 Sisters Food has announced that it is evaluating the closure of a roast chicken plant at Haughley Park, Suffolk, England, a move which will result in about 630 job losses.
This announcement comes after the company publicly announced that it created about 200 new jobs at the Sheffield facility over the past two months.
2 Sisters stated that the Haughley Park site was not sustainable economically or environmentally.
The company gained ownership of the Haughley Park site in 2005 and installed the roast and coated chicken production lines. However, the coated chicken business was shifted to Thetford site in 2011.
2 Sisters is currently holding a 45-day consultation period with the employees regarding the proposed closure. It plans to consolidate production processes to other sites in the UK.
2 Sisters spokesman Nick Murray was quoted by BBC as saying that the company is committed to produce quality food in a sustainable and environmentally-responsible manner; however, the ageing site does not allow it to meet its commitment.
"No decisions have been made and it's very much a proposal at this stage," Murray said.
"It's important to engage with our colleagues to find alternative solutions, but if that can't be done, then as a last resort we will cease production and close the site."
