Up to 430 people are set to lose their jobs as a Gateshead factory that supplies food to the likes of Marks & Spencer is going to shut.
Orchard House Foods plans to relocate production from its factory in Team Valley to its base in Corby, Northamptonshire. It is now consulting with staff, 430 of whom are at risk of redundancy, despite a banner attached to the Team Valley site which states "we are recruiting" that was still visible on Thursday morning.
Orchard House, which supplies the likes of Marks & Spencer, Morrisons and Pret A Manger, said it is offering support for any staff willing to relocate from Gateshead to the south midlands. Help will also be offered to staff looking to find employment elsewhere in the North East.
