Thousands of jobs at risk as food company is up for sale

Over 3,300 workers at meat and poultry processing plants in Wales face an uncertain future whilst a buyer is sought. Dutch-owned Vion NV is selling its UK businesses in order to focus on "core markets" in the Netherlands and Germany and develop its "global ingredients business".

However the company said it was confident of finding a viable buyer.

However the Unite union is demanding assurances over jobs as a condition for any new buyer

The company employs workers at several sites across Wales. The biggest plants are in Merthyr Tydfil and Sandycroft in Flintshire where over 1,300 staff work at each site. More than 300 workers are employed at Welsh Country Foods in Gaerwen and a further 300 in a poultry processing plant in Llangefni. The company also has sites at Bryn Du, Llay and Wrexham.

Farmers who supply the company are also concerned about the future.

The Welsh government has said they will work to help any buyers of the site.