Workers at Bernard Matthews “feel betrayed and let down” after confirmation that 128 jobs are to be lost, a union has claimed.
The new owners of turkey producer Bernard Matthews are to cut 114 production and managerial jobs.
It is expected 69 chicken production and 59 managerial job losses will go ahead, with the union Unite saying workers felt "betrayed and let down" by the decision.
Boparan Private Office said it would secure the jobs of 2,000 workers in Norfolk and Suffolk when it acquired the company in 2016.
Unite said workers had been led to believe that when the company was purchased last September by the Boparan Private Office, owned by 2 Sisters food entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan, more business for chicken production would be generated.
A Bernard Matthews spokesman said: “We have completed the process and explored all options available to us to mitigate job losses.
“After discussion with colleagues and union representatives the decision was taken to cease production of chicken and to restructure head office.”
“These changes will enable the business to focus on what we’re best at and allow us to make things happen with agility and pace.”
'Disappointed'
Regional Unite officer Steve Harley said: “We are obviously disappointed by the announcement that the new owners will cease all year round chicken production at Great Witchingham.
“Our members, who met senior representatives of the 2 Sisters Food Group during the transition period, feel very let down, as these representatives indicated that investment would secure existing jobs and there was also the opportunity to attract more chicken business to the site, so utilising existing spare capacity.
“This has clearly not happened and, therefore, many of those workers feel betrayed as they consider they were misled.”
