More jobs to go over Co-op warehouse closure?

Wednesday 29 October 2014

Up to 50 jobs could be lost at a food wholesale business operating in Jersey and Guernsey.

The news is linked to the Co-op’s decision to close its Jersey warehouse, and it means that the total job toll from that decision could be over 100 – the Co-op has already confirmed that 68 of their Jersey staff could lose their jobs over the move.

And now Easenmyne – which trades as Phoenix Foods in Guernsey – says that between 40 and 50 jobs are at risk at their firm because of planned warehouse closure. They employ a total of 110 people across the islands, so the proposed job losses mean almost half of their total workforce.

They say that they expect staff to lose their jobs by mid-April, meaning some workers have about six months to go.

Easenmyne and Phoenix Foods are owned by AE Surcouf, a family-owned business set up in Jersey in 1945.

In a statement, the company says that they have been forced into the move reluctantly, but that “action is necessary to ensure that the company remains competitive in the current difficult economic climate and is in a solid position for future growth opportunities”.

Chairman Peter Surcouf said that the loss of the Co-op as a customer was a blow to the business.

Mr Surcouf said: “The local Co-operative was an important customer and the company deeply regrets the necessity for the proposed redundancies.

“Our thoughts are with those staff that may eventually be made redundant after the appropriate consultation period.”

Last month the Co-op announced that 68 staff could lose their jobs from their warehouse, the head office and the Total Sport shop at Beaumont. They plan to move their warehouse function to Andover in Hampshire next summer, although there has been a threat of a rebellion at the next Co-op AGM.