More than 200 jobs will be lost in Cork following the announcement by a pharmaceutical firm that it is to cease manufacturing and the closure of part of meat processing factory.
Corden Pharmachem which makes pharmaceutical ingredients announced that it is to phase out manufacturing at its plant in Little Island from effect from the autumn with the loss of around 90 jobs.
Separately, Dawn Meats closed its meat processing in Midleton today with the loss of 130 jobs. The processing will be transferred from Midleton to Charleville and Ballyhaunis in Co Mayo.
Corden said in a statement the decision to phase out manufacturing was taken after “a comprehensive review and analysis of its operations” and that the Little Island plant, which employs 97 people, had incurred “substantial losses in recent years”.
“Given current market conditions for its portfolio of products, the limited potential for the development and commercialisation of new products, the scale of the plant and the significant capital investment necessary for it, the Cork operation is no longer viable."
Corden Pharmachem confirmed it is to retain a research and development activity. It is understood this will employ up to seven or eight people.
Corden, which has been owned for the past three years by the International Chemical Investors Group, said that a consultation process will commence next week with staff representatives and existing customers on the phasing of the closure.
At Dawn Meats, Siptu branch secretary Ben Weathers said that although cattle slaughtering is to continue at the plant for the foreseeable future, the closure of the meat processing operation was “a sad and grim day for Midleton”.
Mr Weathers said that the company had announced in March it was closing the meat processing section and since then the union had been engaged in efforts through both the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court to obtain redundancy terms for the workers.
Dawn Meats confirmed in a statement hat following the announcement of rationalisation plans last March, it was laying off some 65 permanent staff and a similar number of short term contract workers.
The company pointed out that while these lay-offs will result in the closure of the plant’s deboning operation, the plant will continue to operate its slaughter facility and remains open for business for its large number of cattle suppliers in the region.