Morrisons to close Bradford fruit packing plant with more than 450 jobs put at risk

It also plans to move the produce pick from Cutler Heights to its Wakefield distribution centre.

The Bradford-headquartered supermarket said it will try to employ those impacted in other Morrisons manufacturing, logistics and retail sites in the local area, whilst 400 new roles will be created at the Thrapston plant and its Wakefield distribution centre.

The move is expected to bring efficiency savings and a reduction of around 650,000 food miles annually, according to the supermarket, which was bought by private equity giant CD&R for £7bn in 2021.

A spokesman said: "Recent investments in the Thrapston site has created more capacity and space which has made consolidation of the two sites possible. After very careful review and evaluation, we propose to move ahead with a consolidation at Thrapston in the second half of 2023.

“Regrettably, the proposal to consolidate two sites means that there are 456 colleagues at Cutler Heights who are at risk of redundancy. We will do everything we can to employ those colleagues in other Morrisons manufacturing, logistics and retail sites in the local area.

“Over 400 new roles will be created at the Thrapston site and in our Wakefield distribution centre.”

Joanne McGuinness, national officer for shop workers' union USDAW added: “This is obviously devastating news for the staff impacted by today’s company announcement."

The grocer said it is planning to eventually repurpose Cutler Heights into a pet food manufacturing operation.