600 jobs are at risk following the recent announcement of poultry processing firm Bernard Matthews closing the doors to its Norfolk site.

The proposed closure lies within the processing plant and headquarters unit in Great Witchingham, Norfolk.

This site has been in operation since 1955 and employs an estimated 600 members of staff.

The decision arises following a reported £10m loss during 2023, which is a reduction from a £25m loss in 2022.

High input costs from energy, fuel, feed, and labour shortages during Covid and Brexit have negatively affected the business throughout recent years.

A spokesperson stated: “Despite investment in recent years and our efforts to secure more business, it is still loss-making and not commercially viable.”

Bernard Matthews has reported to offer most staff employment within the firm's five other sites.

Regional officer for the Unite union, Mark Jaina declared that a consultation spanning 45 days would begin on Monday 15, between staff and unions.

He added: “The risk of redundancy is not imminent to anybody unless someone's individual circumstance dictates that they can't go to another one of these plants.

Mark also highlights that the firm aims to increase pay and offer a blanket of terms and conditions to employees across all sites.

The firm now shifts its focus to its sites across East Anglia in a bid to “invest and grow.”

The company was first founded in 1950 by Bernard Matthews himself, Matthews then became the largest turkey farmer in Europe in 1960.

In 2016 the founder of 2 Sisters Food Group, Ranjit Singh Boparan bought the Bernard Matthews business.