CO Armagh-based Linwoods has announced it is to close its bakery division at a cost of 70 full-time jobs.
The family business, which cut approximately 90 staff last year after culling its van sales distribution business, is to close its Armagh bakery on the Monaghan Road in mid-October due to a "significant and long-term decline in market demand".
Linwoods has said it will now open a 30-day consultation period with staff and hopes to transfer at least five employees across to the firm's health food division, which is unaffected by the announcement.
The reduction in staff numbers is set to half the company's workforce, which currently stands at 140 across two sites in Co Armagh.
Linwoods joint managing director, John Woods said the decision to close the bakery was regrettable, but unavoidable.
“This is a sad day for the company as we let go of one of the cornerstones of our business which has been integral to building the Linwoods’ brand. Our bakery team has worked incredibly hard and we have explored all possible options to avoid these job losses. This decision has not been taken lightly. It follows several efforts to find alternative solutions," he said.
“Our priority is to secure as many jobs as we can for the future and to provide support for those impacted by this announcement."
“Our health food business is growing and continues to be successful around the world. We are poised to grow this side of Linwoods and we are optimistic about what we can achieve in the years to come," Mr Woods added.
In March last year Linwoods announced it was cutting 90 jobs following a major restructuring of the business to ensure its long-term survival The changes saw the closure of the firm's van sales distribution business. At the time the company said all contracted bakery production would continue as normal.
Linwoods is a family business which began 60 years ago as a small grocery shop. It diversified into health foods in 2002, and now exports its products across the UK and Europe
