McVitie’s: Saving the 500 jobs from factory closure would take the biscuit

NOTEBOOK by BILL HEANEY

McVitie’s biscuit brands each day accompany many millions of cups of tea, growing out of an Edinburgh shop 190 years ago to have the biggest share of Britain’s £3bn biscuit barrel.
Corporate control has passed out of Scotland, and its Turkish owner now says it has to protect brands that go back 130 years by closing a historic Glasgow factory and investing in England.
Biscuit bakers have had a good lockdown, but face the challenge of sweet foods being more regulated.
Digestives, Rich Tea, Club, Penguin, Jaffa Cake, Hobnobs and 14 other brands make McVitie’s a valued part of daily life for many millions.
Market research tells us that biscuits are in the shopping baskets, at some point, of 99.5% of British households.

The owner of UK brands including McVities has announced plans to close its factory in the east end of Glasgow, putting nearly 500 jobs at risk.

David Murray, of Pladis UK and Ireland managing director of McVitie’s owners, announced the consultation to employees at meetings on Tuesday.

He said: “We know this news will be difficult for our colleagues at Tollcross. Our priority now is to provide them with the support they need during the consultation process.

“Pladis is home to some of Britain’s best loved brands which have been part of the fabric of our society for nearly 200 years.

“In order to protect them for generations to come, we must take steps to address excess capacity in the UK.

“This overcapacity limits our ability to make the right investments in future capabilities to meet the very big changes in our industry.”

Glasgow East MP David Linden said: “Today’s news comes as a total body blow to our community.

The move would put 468 roles at risk of redundancy with the global snack firm highlighting “excess capacity” across its UK sites.

“Above all, it’s a massive kick in the teeth for the loyal workforce at Tollcross – many of whom have worked there for decades.

“Since 2017, I’ve been engaging with Pladis around the challenges they face as a business and I was genuinely encouraged to learn that things had started to turn a corner.

“Therefore, news of proposed closure comes as something of a bolt out of the blue.

“My sole focus right now is on engaging with Pladis, local and national Government, as well as the trade unions.

“This is a deeply worrying time for everyone associated with the factory at Tollcross and no stone must be left unturned as we fight to protect local jobs.”

“Above all, it’s a massive kick in the teeth to the loyal workforce at Tollcross – many of whom have worked there for decades.

“Since 2017, I’ve been engaging with Pladis around the challenges they face as a business and I was genuinely encouraged to learn that things had started to turn a corner. Therefore, news of proposed closure comes as something of a bolt out of the blue.

“My sole focus right now is on engaging with Pladis, local and national Government, as well as the trade unions.

“This is a deeply worrying time for everyone associated with the factory at Tollcross and no stone must be left unturned as we fight this.”

I hope there’s a successful campaign to save McVitie’s. Maybe Nicola Sturgeon could lead that once she has important matters such as the pandemic and the constitution dealt with.

Were to the First Minister to rescue these 500 jobs then I have no doubt believing that would take the biscuit. Go for it Nicola!