Pladis, the global confectionary company, has cut 140 jobs in its McVities site in Manchester.

The mass sacking which constituted one-third of the staff has resulted in Usdaw intervening with consultation talks with the biscuit company.

“This is devastating news for our members, many of whom have given long service to the company and all worked throughout the pandemic when food manufacturing was identified as an essential service,” Usdaw natioal officer Dave Gill said.

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“We will now enter into meaningful consultation talks with the company, where we will interrogate their business case for these proposed job losses. Our priorities are to keep as many staff employed within the business as possible and avoid compulsory redundancies.

Gill added: “In the meantime we are providing our members with the support, advice and representation they need at this difficult time.”

The news comes after Pladis appointed a new chief marketing officer last month. The company which encompasses popular UK brands McVities and Jacob’s hired Aslı Özen Turhan as chief marketing officer (CMO) for UK & Ireland, replacing Caroline Hipperson.

Hipperson now assumes the roles of vice president of business development for the global organisation, reporting directly to CEO Salman Amin.