Tulip Factory reopens to create 270 jobs

Nov 26 2009 By Lorna Hughes

Tulip Foods

A MEAT processing firm in Bromborough is creating 270 new jobs - seven months after closing a factory and axing 303 posts.

The Tulip factory on Riverview Road shut in April but the company today announced plans to invest £12m in the site to create a sausage production facility.

Announcing the closure decision in January, divisional managing director Peter Judge said the firm could not see an alternative to closure but the site is now said to have "significant potential" for future growth.

He said: “We are delighted to be able to announce our plans to redevelop our Bromborough production facility and I would like to thank Wirral Council and the Northwest Regional Development Agency for their continued support.
 
“Clearly there is an awful lot of work to do before the new facility will be up and running but we are confident that we will be in a position to begin producing sausages at Bromborough in the first half of 2010."

The factory previously packed and sliced cooked meats for Marks & Spencer and the Co-op.

Wirral Council leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes said: “This is fantastic news for Wirral.  As a Council we’ve worked hard, together with the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to attract investment into Bromborough.

"An investment like this is great news at the best of times but even more so during such a difficult time for the national economy.  This is a real vote of confidence in the excellent facilities available at Bromborough and across Wirral.”

Robert Hough, Chairman of the NWDA, said: “This investment by Tulip in its Wirral site is great news for the area. The creation of 270 new jobs will provide a welcome boost for the local economy, as well as supporting the development of the region’s food and drink industry, a key growth sector for the Northwest.
 
"In the difficult economic climate, today’s announcement is testimony to the significant confidence in Wirral and the Northwest as a prime business location.”

Wallasey MP Angela Eagle is among those who have been urging Tulip to return to Bromborough.

She said: "We had a meeting with the company to see if there was anything we could do about the factory they closed. It became clear that we couldn't but we said we'd keep in touch with them because we are anxious to preserve jobs in the area."

Wirral South MP Ben Chapman said he would be asking Tulip if it planned to re-employ staff made redundant in April.

He said: "The news that the facility is to be redeveloped is good for Wirral South and Wirral in general. The investment of £12m will have long-term benefits for the local economy."

Did you work for Tulip? Contact the newsdesk on 239 5907 or e-mail newsdesk@wirralnews.co.uk