Baxters Food Group to axe 80 jobs at Fochabers site

Baxters Food Group plans to cut 80 jobs under its two-year manufacturing transformation programme.

The firm has initiated consultations with affected staff members at its facility in Fochabers, UK.

Baxters Food Group executive chair Audrey Baxter was quoted by Dailyrecord.co.uk as saying: "We need to improve the performance of our European business.

"We must respond to ongoing external challenges such as difficult trading conditions, squeeze on margins, food deflation, aggressive promotional activity and overall category decline reflecting change in consumer tastes.

"In order to do this, we will invest and improve the skills of our people and apply good manufacturing and commercial practices to maximise our efficiencies to maintain our position as a world leading manufacturer of premium products."

The plant employs up to 700 people.

With an annual turnover of £300m, the firm has a total workforce of around 1,500 people and intends to train its employees on lean manufacturing practices.

A part of its strategic growth plan, Baxters’ manufacturing transformation programme will initially begin with the Fochabers location and subsquently be extended to other facilities.

The company has eight locations worldwide.