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Bernard Matthews could close Great Witchingham factory

Shaun Whitmore/BBC Entrance sign to Bernard MatthewsShaun Whitmore/BBC
Great Witchingham has been the home of Bernard Matthews since 1955

Poultry producer Bernard Matthews has announced it is looking to close one of its sites.

The company said its factory at Great Witchingham, Norfolk, had become "loss-making and not commercially viable" despite recent investment.

The site, which has been the firm's headquarters since 1955, employs about 600 people.

A spokesperson said it would offer colleagues alternative roles at sister sites if the closure was confirmed.

"We understand this will be extremely disappointing news for everyone concerned at Great Witchingham," a company spokesperson said.

"Our key priority now is to hold consultations with all employees and their representatives and explore the full range of options before making any final decisions."

Matt Cardy/Getty Images Golden drummies packetMatt Cardy/Getty Images
In the 1980s, an advertising campaign by Bernard Matthews described its products as 'bootiful'

In 2023, Bernard Matthews reported losses of £10m, which was significantly lower than the £25m of losses it reported in 2022.

The company said it had carried out a review of its operations at its headquarters and now hoped to "invest and grow" its other sites across East Anglia.

"We are proposing to make changes to help us overcome the huge challenges facing our sector," a spokesperson added.

Challenges included the cost of energy, feed and fuel, as well as labour shortages caused by Covid-19 and Brexit.

Bernard Matthews said "pretty much" every employee would be offered employment at five other sites linked to the company.

Bryn Colton/Getty Images Bernard MatthewsBryn Colton/Getty Images
Bernard Matthews started the business more than 70 years ago with 20 eggs and a second-hand incubator

Mark Jaina, a regional officer for the Unite union, said a 45-day consultation involving staff and unions would begin on Monday.

"The risk of redundancy is not imminent to anybody unless someone's individual circumstance dictates that they can't go to another one of these plants," he said.

"[Bernard Matthews] intend to increase the rates of pay and keep the terms and conditions for every employee the same, whichever site they're deployed to."

Bernard Matthews was bought by the British businessman Ranjit Singh Boparan in 2016, who founded the 2 Sisters Food Group, after the founder of the company Bernard Matthews died in 2010.

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