More bad news for the North East

Posted on 12 Jan 2009 by The Manufacturer

Newcastle Production, which manufactures and distributes Findus frozen food in the UK, is the latest North East firm to run into trouble. Administrators have been called in and 420 jobs are under threat.

The company said ‘cash flow problems’ led to it calling in Zoflo Cooper as administrator last Friday. The site in Longbeton has been closed anyway since January 6 when a major fire ‘devastated’ much of the factory.

Nick Cropper, partner at Zolfo Cooper, said: “Newcastle Production is a well established local business and produces a range of high quality frozen food products in the UK, under the Findus brand – a popular and long-established food label.

“We remain confident that there will be interest from potential buyers to secure the future of this business and will need the support of all parties to achieve this.”

The North East is still reeling from the announcement last week that Nissan is to make 1200 staff at its Sunderland plant redundant. The figure constitutes almost a third of its workforce.