Jobs at risk as HelloFresh plans to close its Banbury distribution warehouse
Hundreds of jobs could be at risk after HelloFresh announced plans to close its Banbury distribution centre.
The subscription-based meal kit packing and delivery company announced on Wednesday, June 3, that it is proposing to close its Banbury site, subject to consultation.
HelloFresh moved into the 237,000-square-foot production and distribution centre, the Granary, on Chalker Way in 2016.
The company’s Granary centre currently employs 271 people; however, it is unclear at present how many of these jobs are at risk.
HelloFresh has decided it will be able to meet its customers' needs better by consolidating its Banbury operations with the larger Windmill facility in Derby.
A spokesperson for HelloFresh said: “We have made the difficult decision to propose to close our Banbury site, subject to consultation.
“After an extensive review of our operations, our initial proposal is that consolidating to a single, more technologically advanced site is the right course of action to ensure the long-term viability and efficiency of the business. Our Windmill site is equipped with technology that enables greater operational complexity and delivers an expanding menu with flexible ingredient options. These capabilities require a single, centralised footprint to operate efficiently.
“We will now enter a period of consultation with our employees on our proposal and to consider all reasonable alternatives. Our focus will be on supporting affected employees, including exploring redeployment opportunities.
“The proposed closure of the facility is not a reflection of the local teams’ performance, and we are grateful for all their hard work and commitment to date.”