Job losses at factor (From Western Telegraph)

Job losses at factor

Four jobs are to be lost at the Haverfordwest cheese-making factory amid moves to make the plant more efficient.

Haverfordwest Cheese Ltd, a partnership between the farmer-owned co-operative, First Milk, and processing giant, Dairy Crest, is making the cut-backs as the industry struggles with over-capacity and low prices on the world commodity markets.

It is understood that two jobs will go in the processed cheese department. One will be lost in the laboratory, and a further one in engineering. First Milk director Mansel Raymond says every industry must strive to make its operations more efficient and Havefordwest Cheese Ltd was no exception.

He says any job losses among the 85 staff are regretted but investment to secure the factorys long-term future is on-going. We must look forward, he says. In any business, if ways can be found of making a job more efficient then they will without doubt be implemented.

First Milk and Dairy Crest announced in January its joint venture operation designed to ensure continued milk supplies for long-term cheese and whey production at Haverfordwest.

Haverfordwest Cheese Ltd aims to handle more than 210 million litres of milk from West Wales producers every year. These producers are expecting an announcement in the next two weeks on the spring milk price.

It appears that the industry must prepare itself for bad news. The prospects dont look good, admits Mansel Raymond.