The Compleat Food Group has cut back the workforce at its Crewe factory due to “changing demand in a competitive trading environment”.
The same reason was given in late January from the business as it looked to reduce headcount at its Tottle bakery in Nottingham. There, Compleat said it has entered a 45-day consultation process putting 131 roles at risk of redundancy.
The Nottingham site specialises in pork pies for retailers while the Crewe bakery – which came as part of the 2021 acquisition of Wrights Food Group – makes pies, pasties, slices, sausage rolls, bread, sandwiches, ready meals, cakes, cookies, and desserts.
Compleat didn’t confirm the exact number of roles being made redundant at the Crewe site but said it was less than 60. It added that redundant staff had not been replaced by agency workers as had been alleged by a source claiming to be close to the matter.
“Following a comprehensive review of the volume at our Crewe site, some redundancies have been made. The majority were voluntary redundancies,” read a company statement.
“The review was required due to changing demand in a competitive trading environment and to ensure we can continue to support the long-term sustainable future of the site. We worked closely with all employees affected, including meeting on an individual basis to offer positions at other sites along with practical support,” added Compleat.
Compleat was formed in 2021 when Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Derby joined forces under their private equity owner PAI Partners, with Wrights coming on board at the end of that year. Two further brands – SK Chilled Foods and Zorba Foods – joined the fold in 2024. Other brands in the group’s portfolio include Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, Squeaky Bean, Unearthed and Vadasz.
The business employs around 5,000 people across 16 sites. Its latest accounts for the 53 weeks to 30 March 2024 had sales and profits soaring compared to FY23 as it continues on its journey to become ‘the UK’s leading chilled prepared food group’.
News of the redundancies follows the announcement by Morrisons in January that it was downscaling its Rathbones bakery in Wakefield and ceasing production of traditional sliced bread. The retailer said 270 of the 378 staff members there had accepted voluntary redundancy.
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