Closure of the Uniq Foods, Evercreech

25 May 2004

 MENDIP District Council has reacted with shock and dismay to the announcement that the Uniq Prepared Foods factory in Evercreech is to close in early 2006 with the loss of 420 jobs.

Uniq Foods is one of the largest employers in the wider Shepton Mallet area. Its closure comes on the heels of the departure of two other major employers, Dr Marten's, and Huntsman Polyurethanes, over the last eighteen months. The job losses are a reflection of the gradual decline in major manufacturing activity locally, and its replacement with smaller scale business activity.

Uniq Prepared Foods, better known locally under its previous ownership, St Ivel, has a long association with Evercreech, where it occupies a very prominent and central location in the village. Apart from employing significant numbers of contract staff, it has a large contingent of local people who have worked in the factory, with strong family associations with the site. Its impact will be particularly felt in the village.

Commenting on the closure, Councillor Ken Maddock, leader of Mendip District Council, said:

"Companies like Uniq have been the building blocks of our local economy, and my sympathy goes out to all of those who work in the factory who will be losing their jobs as a result of this relocation. Mendip will do all in its power to work with the company and other partners to help local people secure alternative employment and training opportunities where appropriate. To that end, I will be meeting the local management in the next day or two."

He added:

"Looking to the future, our continuing task is to make sure that the area continues to be an attractive location for small business and tourism to replace these lost jobs. It is one of the Council's three priorities, and news like this only adds to our resolve to keep Mendip a working District."

Last Updated

16 January 2007

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