McCain Foods axes 46 jobs at Scarborough prepared foods plant

Nearly 50 workers at McCain Foods in Scarborough are set to lose their jobs because of a decline in sales of prepared foods.

But the management stressed they were still "firmly committed"to staying in Scarborough.

The shock news was given to staff at the prepared foods plant, which employs 113 people.

Altogether the firm employs a combined staff of 900 people at that plant and its French-fried potato plant, both in Havers Hill, Eastfield.

Sue Jefferson, the prepared foods business director for McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, said: "Over the past five years, our prepared foods business has seen a decline in sales. Despite the redeployment of staff to other parts of our business and continued investment into new product development, this part of our business is now no longer economically viable in its current state.

"To ensure the long-term sustainability of our prepared foods business, we are starting a process to adjust production hours to match current volume sales forecasts which will require a reduction of 46 staff in this part of our business."