Wholesaler Bestway is planning further consolidation at Batleys after a review, with a restructure and relocation of head office staff.

In terms of the proposals, most finance responsibilities will shift from Batleys' HQ in Leeds to the Bestway site in London. Other Batleys departments, including buying, marketing, IT, audit and file maintenance, will move to the Batleys site at Huddersfield.

Consultations have begun over job losses.

Bestway MD Younus Sheikh said: "In any business one has to continually review strategy and do what is best. We regard our staff as one of our most valuable assets and it is our intention to minimise job losses by redeploying people."

Bestway bought Batleys in February last year. It was decided that the two companies should continue trading separately from their respective locations. Batley's wholesale petfood business was sliced in two, with the delivered wing becoming a separate entity L Batley Pet Products.

Topics