Redundancies at a fire-hit crisp factory are inevitable, its management has said.
Workers at the Real Crisp factory on the Pen-Y-Fan Industrial Estate in Crumlin had to be evacuated in the early hours of Thursday morning last week because of the blaze.
Sixty-five firefighters from 20 stations were sent to the incident. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said that on arrival at 3.30am, three-quarters of the building already alight.
The Sirhowy Valley Foods factory employs 115 people and bosses have admitted that some will lose their jobs.
Paul Allen, the chief executive of Northern Ireland company Tayto Group, which owns the factory, said: “While we can guarantee salaries to staff until the end of October, it is much more difficult to have any concrete plans beyond that, at this stage.
“Staff have agreed to be flexible and a small number will be able to travel to our plant in Northern Ireland, where we also hand fry crisps.
“Others may be deployed to Corby, but obviously that cannot be anything but a very short-term solution.
“It’s not practical economically and it’s very disruptive for the individuals and their families.
“Unfortunately it looks like redundancies will be inevitable.
“As yet we don’t know the extent or timescale, but feel it is only fair to our staff to give them as much warning as possible.
“Many of them are very skilled and we shall be working hard to make sure we don’t lose that expertise, but clearly we will not be able to transfer 115 people around the country.
“Only weeks ago we were looking for staff at the plant to do extra hours, now we are looking at job losses.
“It’s hard to believe so much can change in such a short time, but we are in discussions with the Welsh Government about what can be done and we shall make sure that the Real brand will continue.
“Our customers have been very understanding and our contingency plans to minimise disruption are kicking in successfully.
“The insurers understand the urgency and are co-operating fully, as is our landlord, who is obviously greatly involved with what happens to the site.”
Cllr Lloyd said: “This fire was devastating news for the company and the 115 employees. Everything must be done to protect the livelihoods of employees and save jobs.
“I’d love to see the company getting production up and running again and re-opening in the Crumlin area. They are an important employer in this area.
“I understand from one employee that there was talk about alternative work in Northern Ireland but that would clearly cause major disruption for individuals and their families.
“The business was started at Cwmfelinfach so there is great attachment to Real Crisps and when I toured the factory earlier this year I was hugely impressed with the operation.
“I’m sure Caerphilly council and the Welsh Government if required will be pulling out all the stops to help this company recover from this devastating fire.”
It is such a shame this can result in the loss of peoples livelihoods in this way. To have gone from the prospect of extra hours to redundancy overnight must be devastating. Undoubtedly those extra hours would have been very handy for some with winter fuel bills and Christmas looming on the horizon.
I am glad to see a councillor calling for production to restart in the area. Hopefully there is something that can be done to preserve jobs and restore what was a successful operation.