Packaging factory set for closure

The company took over the ailing EP Packaging in June 2008

A food packaging factory is to close with the loss of 62 jobs, only a year after it was rescued.

Anson Packaging, which is based at Wrexham's Queensway industrial estate, has issued redundancy notices after a consultation period.

Some workers have been on a three-day week since the end of last year due to a slump in orders at the factory.

It has been operating for 15 years and makes thermo-formed plastic trays to the bakery and confectionery industry.

Last June, the previous owners, EP Packaging went into receivership but the business was taken over almost immediately by the Cambridgeshire-based Anson company without any loss of jobs.

'Opportunity'

But last month workers were warned by senior management that the factory faced closure unless orders improved.

Production manager John Roden said: "It's a sad blow. Everyone has now been issued with redundancy notices and we are in the process of talking to our workforce about what this means.

"We are also in discussions with organisations such as the Jobcentre and Careers Wales to see if they can help."

Mr Roden added: "One or two people may have the opportunity of transferring to one of our two other factories, at Haddenham and Sutton in Cambridgeshire, but they are undergoing their own restructuring at the moment and there could be some redundancies there too."

Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths is to visit the factory to explain to the company what support will be available to workers being made redundant.

"I have already expressed my disappointment that Anson's are moving their operations from Wrexham to Cambridgeshire," she said.

"This has come as a blow to all those employed at Queensway."