Puddings firm to shed 390 workers

Production at Paignton is transferring to Shropshire

A factory in Devon which makes trifles and chocolate puddings for a supermarket chain is closing with the potential loss of up to 390 jobs.

Uniq is shutting down its Riviera Desserts operation at Paignton, as it is consolidating production after making a 2007 pre-tax loss of £44.1m.

The company, which makes desserts for Marks and Spencer, will transfer production to Minsterley in Shropshire.

Buckinghamshire-based Uniq has invested £36m in upgrading Minsterley.

'Huge blow'

Uniq's UK chairman, Rick Turnbull, said there was an "urgent need for consolidation".

He said: "We have considered a wide range of alternatives.

"However, we now believe that the proposed closure of the Paignton site is the only viable way in which to return our desserts business to profitability.

"We do appreciate that this news is a huge blow to the team at Riviera Desserts, and I must stress that it is no way a reflection on the skill and commitment of the employees at the site.

"Our priority now is to do everything we can for them to lessen the potential impact of today's announcement."

None of the workers at the plant wanted to speak about the cuts but Dave Springbett of the T&G union said: "Manufacturing has taken a terrible toll, not only in that part of Devon but across the whole county.

"Dairy Crest closed in Totnes last August and some of those people went and got jobs at Riviera Desserts.

"Now they've been told that they're going to be made redundant again."