General Mills has announced plans to close its Jus-Rol pastry plant in Northumberland with the potential loss of 265 jobs.
The US food giant, which also owns brands including Häagen-Dazs and Green Giant, has proposed closing the site in Berwick-upon-Tweed by autumn next year.
The plant, which produces Berry Crocker baking mixes and refrigerated and frozen dough products, has manufactured Jus-Rol for more than 50 years and is one of the town’s largest employers. General Mills bought the Jus-Rol business from Diageo in 2001.
The company today also announced plans to close a manufacturing facility in East Tamaki, New Zealand where it makes fresh pasta, sauces, and refrigerated soup products.
Today’s announcements come three months after the business proposed the closure of two sites in the US: one in West Chicago that employs 500 staff and cereals, meals and snacks; and one in Joplin, Missouri that employs 120 staff and produces snacking products.
In its full-year results to 31 May 2015, the company reported a 2% decline in net sales to $17.6bn, with operating profits down 4% to $3bn.
Its results for the first quarter of this year showed a 23.6% hike in profits to $426.6m despite net sales down 1% to $4.21bn.
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