Almost 550 jobs have been put at risk after Pilgrim’s UK revealed plans to close a major site.

The company is proposing the closure of its Ashton-under-Lyne base as part of measures to “fully optimise its operational footprint across the UK and return to growth”.

The business added that the plans form part of its ongoing footprint review as it “ensures the best structure for long-term growth and development and for mitigating the current unfavourable market conditions in the UK”.

The initial phase of Pilgrim’s UK’s footprint review included the closure of its Coalville site and the imminent closure of the Bury St Edmunds base, as well as the introduction of a four-day week at Ashton in September 2022.

If the latest closure goes ahead, the operations would be transferred to its facilities in Spalding, Westerleigh and Bromborough.

Pilgrim’s UK said the UK pork sector “continues to face the most significant challenges in its history, with the UK sow herd having contracted by around 15% and loss-making farmers leaving the industry due to a sustained period of high production costs and lower pig prices”.

It added that “at the same time, an increasing and on-going reliance in the UK on cheaper, lower welfare imports from the EU and post-pandemic recovery challenges within certain markets has negatively impacted UK production”.

Rachel Baldwin, vice president of Human Resources, Pilgrim’s UK, said: “The decision to propose the closure of our Ashton site has not been taken lightly and we have made every effort to explore alternative options.

A key part of our work to return to growth includes ensuring we fully optimise our operational footprint and the age and location of Ashton within a densely populated area means that there is no feasible opportunity to modernise or grow the site.

As a result, these proposals are unfortunately essential to ensure a sustainable future for our team members across the UK.”

The announcement puts all 542 Ashton team members, at all levels, at risk of redundancy. The proposals will create 90 additional roles split between Westerleigh, Spalding and Bromborough.

The business is to now enter into a period of “collective consultation” with site union and employee representatives.