The company makes Goodfella pizzas

Last month Northern Foods said 1,060 jobs were going at two pastry plants, including its Cavaghan and Gray subsidiary in Carlisle.

The company makes ready-made meals and Goodfella's pizzas. Jobs at a sister plant in Worcestershire are also going.

A Cumbria County Council-led task force will meet senior management from the firm to discuss the situation.

The job losses were blamed on price pressure from the group's supermarket clients and follows the loss of 30 senior management jobs earlier this year.

'Uncertain future'

Northern Foods, which also makes Dalepak frozen foods and Fox's biscuits, said 100 jobs will be created when it moves the production of quiche and vegetable bakes from Carlisle to Nottingham in 2005.

A spokesman for Cumbria County Council, said: "The company has agreed to meet three representatives from the task force on 8 October."

This will include local MP Eric Martlew and the leader of the city council Mike Mitchelson.

The firm said it had been hit by rising energy prices and increases in the cost of various foods.