Blow as 60 factory jobs face axe at cheese firm in county
Sixty jobs are under threat at a cheese packing factory in Shropshire.
The jobs could go among production line staff at The Cheese Company in Oswestry.
The blow comes just two months after the firm, which employs about 350 people, announced 70 office jobs were set to be lost at the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate factory as part of company restructuring plans.
Bosses said at the time the restructuring, which followed a merger between Arla Foods and Milk Link, would not affect cheese cutting and packing jobs.
But Arla Foods bosses have now said talks are being held over the potential loss of the further 60 jobs – this time on the production line.
An Arla Foods spokeswoman said: "We informed colleagues of the potential loss of around 60 roles in production at the site, subject to consultation.
"We are entering into full consultation with colleagues at Oswestry, and their representatives, and are committed to helping those colleagues potentially affected find alternative employment both internally and externally, including the provision of a job-shop facility."
Oswestry mayor Councillor Martin Bennett said his 'heart went out' to those affected by the job losses.
He said he had been told the factory had suffered a 23 per cent cut in production because of a failure to secure a contract with Iceland.
