Union proposals over biscuit production plans given more time

UK biscuit manufacturer Burton’s Foods is to give more time to union proposals on the company’s planned production revamp.

In January, Burton’s set out plans to close its biscuit factory in the town of Moreton, outsource chocolate refining at the site and invest in two more facilities – in Edinburgh and Llantarnam.

Burton’s also laid out plans to implement flexible working at all its manufacturing sites and consolidate its “multi-site” Knowsley distribution operations into a single location.

In total, some 412 jobs were said to be under threat from the plans, including 342 at Moreton.

The company’s plans to close the Moreton facility have been met with fierce resistance from local unions, which have put forward alternative plans to what the biscuit maker has dubbed its “supply chain transformation programme”.

After discussions with the Unite union, Burton’s has decided to press ahead with plans to stop biscuit manufacturing at Moreton and switch production to Edinburgh and Llantarnam – moves that will result in 109 jobs being lost.

However, Unite said that Burton’s has agreed to continue the consultation on the union’s plans to keep chocolate refining and seasonal assortment packing at Moreton until 16 May.

Unite said it was “disappointed” that Burton’s had decided to end production at Moreton but said its proposals were a “viable option” for the business and could see “a number of jobs kept at the site”.