Bernard Matthews has announced the closure of its Derby processing site, which will cease operations by the end of this year.
The decision – which followed consultations “with employee and union representatives” – had been taken due to continued significant losses,” said a spokesman for the business, one of the country’s largest turkey producers. Economic challenges and the current, unstable geopolitical environment, “including Brexit, Covid, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East”, had all contributed.
Bernard Matthews would support the estimated 600 employees affected through “potential redeployment opportunities across the wider business, and engagement with local organisations to explore alternative employment options”, the spokesman added.
The business recorded a £6.9m pre-tax profit – up 126.3% annually – in the year ended 29 December 2024, according to its most recently available accounts. However, it was only able to do so by carrying out cost-based efficiencies such as closing its loss-making Great Witchingham factory in Norfolk.
Bernard Matthews had been urging the government to do more to support the UK’s “fragile food supply chain” for two years. “Farmers and food producers face rising costs and increasing complexity, which are restricting growth, driving food inflation and undermining the UK’s food security,” the spokesman said.
“Without targeted government action on supply chain resilience, planning and taxation, we fear more farms and food manufacturing sites will close, increasing the UK’s reliance on lower-quality imports and weakening food and national security.”
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