Newark MP Robert Jenrick expresses disappointment at Goodlife Food's decision to move manufacturing abroad

The MP for Newark has expressed his disappointment at the decision by a major town food manufacturer to shut up shop and move its production to mainland Europe with the loss of up 100 jobs.

Robert Jenrick said he would be writing to Daloon Foods (UK) Ltd, which trades as Goodlife Foods on Newark Industrial Estate, with that disappointment and to seek assurances that staff were being supported.

Goodlife Foods will cease manufacturing at Newark, its only UK manufacturing base, on May 6.

The vegetarian food manufacturer supplies products to Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado.

Mr Jenrick said: "I am very disappointed with the company's decision and concerned for the employees involved.

I will be making contact with the company to seek assurances as to how they are supporting the staff they are letting go."

With a cost of living crisis, Mr Jenrick said: "It will be a very worrying time for those workers.

"Fortunately the employment market in the Newark area is currently very strong so hopefully they will find other options to to be available."

As reported by the Advertiser online yesterday, the company said: "Further to the announcement made on January 13, we have now completed the collective and individual consultations with our colleagues on ways of avoiding the proposed Newark site closure, or at least minimise the impact.

"Unfortunately no suitable or viable alternatives have been found, therefore, the decision has been taken to close the UK manufacturing site in Newark, and to subsequently move all volume into our group production facilities in mainland Europe.

"The decision has been driven by the challenging trading conditions that we have experienced in the UK market over recent years and that we believe we would continue to face into 2022 and beyond. By moving our production out of the UK, we can leverage the benefits of scale and efficiencies that the wider group can offer.

"We will continue to manufacture product at our Newark site up until the closure date of May 6, 2022.

"Leading up to this date we will be working closely with and supporting our colleagues in Newark to find alternative employment outside of Goodlife Foods.

Better known to Newarkers as Daloons, the food manufacturer’s name was changed to Goodlife Foods in 2016. Its Warrington site shut a few years ago and all operations were moved to Newark.