Jobs boost at pie makers

A firm of pie makers is taking on 50 more workers at its Market Drayton factory only four months after warning that 300 jobs were in jeopardy.

Palethorpes, which employs nearly 1,000 people, said new orders and a reorganisation of the business explain its change in fortunes.

The loss of a big order from Sainsbury's did cause 170 jobs to go, but the firm said redundancies have barely been necessary as enough people chose to leave of their own accord.

Only about 10 people will be moving on and Palethorpes said the reason is that new shift patterns do not suit them.

The firm is now trying to recruit another 50 workers help meet new orders for pies and sausage rolls, including extra business from the Asda store chain.

Palethorpes executives said that a lot of hard work has gone into generating new business and that the workforce deserves praise for helping to turn around a difficult situation.