General Mills UK, which manufactures Jus-Rol pastry, is to close its Berwick bakery following a review of the business.

The move to close the Berwick-upon-Tweed bakery was announced yesterday, and will affect 265 jobs.

The US food group proposed the closure in October of last year, but today it confirmed that plans to close the factory were definitely going ahead.

Employee representatives and union officials have been consulted at length before taking the decision, according to the company.

In a statement released yesterday, General Mills UK said: “That consultation process has closed and a decision has been made to proceed with the proposal. The company will now begin the necessary phases to close the plant.”

close by autumn

The site will close by autumn 2016 at the latest. Severance and transition benefits will be provided to all employees affected by the move.

Betty Crocker baking mixes, and refrigerated and frozen dough products are produced at the plant, and Jus-Rol has been manufactured there for more than 50 years (General Mills bought the Jus-Rol business from Diageo in 2001). The factory is one of Berwick-upon-Tweed’s largest employers.

Net sales through the first six months of the 2016 financial year fell by 4% to $8.6bn, down by 1% on a constant currency basis. But first-half operating profit was up 8% to $1.7bn.