Tulip
Karro Food Group and Tulip, two of the country’s biggest pork processors, have announced job losses after both suffered ‘notably’ fewer bacon orders.
Karro Food Group announced last week that it was proposing to axe 150 jobs at its Scunthorpe site, while Tulip announced 78 roles at its Tipton factory were at risk.
Local press in Scunthorpe and Tipton speculated the reason for the job losses to be a terminated contracts with Tesco.
“Things have been too quiet, and we put too many of our eggs into one basket,” one member of staff at Karro Food Group told The Scunthorpe Telegraph.
In a statement Tulip said it had lost “significant volume with a customer”
Last week Tesco announced its third-quarter results, showing total sales to be down 0.6%. The supermarket also announced 43 store closures.
A spokesperson for Karro Food Group said: “Proposals of this type are taken extremely reluctantly, and only when all other options have been ruled out. However, unfortunately these proposals are essential in order to ensure Karro’s continued viability and growth as a business. We are working closely with USDAW and employee representatives to look for every opportunity to mitigate job losses and will support our employees in every way possible through this difficult process.”
In a statement Tulip said it hoped some employees could be transferred elsewhere in the business.
Tulip Group HR director Kirsty Wilkins explained the decision: “While our commercial team is working hard to replace the lost volume, the harsh reality is that we are operating in a very challenging marketplace and therefore need to take the necessary measures to ensure the site can remain competitive.
“I do appreciate that this announcement will cause a great deal of uncertainty and concern for those people currently employed on the twilight shift and we will be working with them and their representatives over the coming weeks to identify ways in which we can mitigate the potential impact of our proposal.”
Tulip and Scottish pork producers have taken control of a Scottish processing plant as part of a new collaboration said to be “fantastic news” for the Scottish pig industry.
Pork processor Tulip has teamed up with pig supply co-operatives Scotlean Pigs and Scottish Pig Producers in a new entity called Quality Pork Limited (QPL), at a pork facility in Brechin, based in Angus,
Bob Yuill, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), which supports co-operative farming in Scotland welcomed the initiative: “It is very significant that the plant is now effectively in the hands of pig producers. This strategic collaboration amongst the co-ops is hugely important and an example of the kind of cross-European partnership that we need to see more of.”
QPL said they have future plans on upgrading the site by adding a new slaughter line, chilling and lorry wash facilities which will increase the capacity of the operation.
Andrew Saunders, director of agriculture at Tulip, explained: “The purchase of the facility by QPL is fantastic news for the whole of the Scottish pig industry and their planned upgrade to increase the site’s capacity will mean that even more people across the UK and further afield will be able to enjoy quality Scottish pork.” –
QPL said the initiative was supported by the Scottish Government: “The Scottish government has been very supportive of this initiative and I am confident that by working closely with Quality Meat Scotland, Scottish Pig Producers, Scotlean and Tulip we can help secure the future of the Scottish pig industry.”
Dragon’s Den star Alf Turner has launched a new spiced sausage, Dragon’s Fury, which will be launched into 200 Asda stores.
After securing investment from Dragon Peter Jones, Alf Turner launched the Dragon’s Egg scotch egg and it’s Hair of the Hog and Best of British sausages into Sainsbury’s stores earlier this year.
Produced by retail pork supplier Tulip, the Dragon’s Fury sausage will contain the same meat as the Dragon’s Egg.
Simon Harrington, senior brand and licencing manager at Tulip, said: “Tulip has supported Paul in launching the Dragon’s Egg, Best of British, Hair of the Hog and now the Dragon’s Fury sausages, which are manufactured at our Bromborough and Ruskington sites.
“We are really starting to see momentum building with the Alf Turner brand. These are premium products, which certainly have a place in the market, and I am confident we will see them on more and more supermarket shelves in the months ahead.”
The Dragon’s Fury range will be retailed at £2.50 per pack, with 2p per pack donated to the Help for Heroes charity.