Farron demands job guarantees after Heinz announce cut backs on products

12.00.00am GMT Tue 2nd Mar 2010

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has called on food company Heinz to guarantee that no local jobs will be put at risk after the manufacturer announced plans to discontinue their nurture range of infant milks in the UK.

The Nurture range of infant milks and sterilised water are made by Heinz at the Kendal production site, which employs over one hundred local residents. Heinz have confirmed that they do not anticipate that there will be any impacts for employees at the site, however Mr Farron has written to Nigel Dickie, the Director of Corporate and Government Affairs at Heinz to seek assurances that no jobs will be lost as a result of the decision.

Commenting Mr Farron said:

"At a time when the economy is beginning to show signs of recovery, the last thing an area like South Lakeland needs is the news that a major employer will be scaling back their local investment.

"Although Heinz have said that they don't anticipate the decision to discontinue their nurture range will have a direct impact on employment, staff at the factory will obviously been concerned at the uncertainty this will bring.

"I've written to Heinz asking them to guarantee that no one will lose their job as a result of the decision."