HelloFresh distribution centre set to close
BBCA meal kit delivery company has announced it is planning to close its distribution centre in Oxfordshire.
German firm HelloFresh said it had notified employees at its site in Banbury - the Granary - that it was focusing operations at a "more technologically advanced site" in Derby.
About 270 people are employed at the Banbury site. The company said it was consulting with staff and was exploring options, including redeployment.
HelloFresh which delivers kits with pre-packaged fresh ingredients and cooking instructions, experienced rapid growth during the pandemic.
A statement said: "We have made the difficult decision to propose to close our Banbury site, subject to consultation.
"After an extensive review of our operations, our initial proposal is that consolidating to a single, more technologically advanced site is the right course of action to ensure the long-term viability and efficiency of the business.
"Our Windmill site [in Derby] is equipped with technology that enables greater operational complexity and delivers an expanding menu with flexible ingredient options."
The company described the Windmill site as its "most state-of-the-art production site in UK". It is about an hour and a half away from Banbury by car.
It said that if the proposal proceeded, Banbury employees would be "prioritised" for suitable roles elsewhere in the company.
The firm said the decision to close was made as part of a "wider review of its UK operations".
"The proposed closure of the facility is not a reflection of the local teams' performance, and we are grateful for all their hard work and commitment to date.
"HelloFresh UK is consulting with colleagues in line with all relevant legal requirements and remains committed to engaging openly and transparently throughout the process," it added.
At the outbreak of the pandemic, HelloFresh announced an expansion of the workforce in Banbury to cope with "strong growth".
