Up to 200 jobs to be created by Sutton Bridge salad factory expansion

Up to 200 jobs will be created in the Fens following a major expansion of a vegetable and salad factory at Sutton Bridge.

General manager Steve Woolley performed a turf cutting ceremony yesterday to signify the start of building work that starts on Monday and is due for completion next April.

Wingland Foods, part of Bakkavor, the Icelandic food giant, said the new jobs would follow over a two year period once the work is complete.

The work involves extending the production and warehouse facilities as well improvements to the entrance and road links to the docking area. Kings Lynn based Chalcroft has won the contract to build the extension.

The Sutton Bridge factory, which opened in 2000, employs 464 workers and at its peak produces 200,000 packs of salad a day.

Mr Woolley said: “This expansion will help us increase production and marks the next step in the development of the Wingland site.

“We are excited to be able to get this project underway, which is another important milestone in our development.

“It will allow us to meet the growth demands of our customer and improve the overall efficiency of the site.

“We enjoy a good relationship with Waitrose and are proud to supply them and contribute to their growth.”

Wingland Foods became part of the Bakkavor Group eight years ago following the Icelandic group’s purchase of Geest’s portfolio of 30 companies. Bakkavor originally bought 10 per cent of Geest before acquiring the whole group.

The news is a boost for the Fenland economy which is still reeling from the loss of 300 jobs at Moy Park in Wisbech after it announced earlier this year it was moving chicken production to Grantham. The Wisbech factory remains open but with a much reduced work force specialising in cooked, sliced meats.

And just 10 days ago fresh fruit producer Del Monte, also of Wisbech, which employs 260 people, said it was in a 30 day consultation period with some staff over possible redundancies. The company has declined to say how many of these are at risk but numbers should be known within a fortnight.