Milne Foods closure decision 'absolutely gut-wrenching'

A director at Milne Foods Ltd in Birr has described having to make the decision to close the business as “absolutely gut-wrenching”.

Declan Milne confirmed the company will begin to wind down its operations in March after it commenced a 30-day consultation period with staff recently.

Some 60 people will lose their jobs with the closure of the company at the Syngefield Industrial Estate in Birr, from where it currently supplies fresh and prepared fruit and vegetables to the catering, manufacturing, wholesale and retail industry.

Its website states the company processes over 300 tonnes of fresh produce per week, with a plant capacity of in excess of 600 tonnes

Milne Foods Ltd has been a significant element of the Birr economic landscape for decades. At its height, just prior to the pandemic, it employed 135 staff.

Based in Crinkle from the 1960s, the company expanded into the prepared food market in 1992, washing peeling, slicing and dicing vegetables for the hospitality sector, before moving to Syngefield some 20 years ago.

Mr Milne said the company had faced a lot of factors in recent years, all of which were outside its control.

“It was one thing on top of another,” he said, citing the impact of the pandemic, Brexit and now rising costs as contributory factors to the decision to cease the business.

He explained that the pandemic had badly affected the hospitality sector, its main source of clients.

A large proportion of its customers, who are exporters, are also impacted by Brexit, whilst Milne Foods itself imports some of its raw materials.

Mr Milne said the company's priorities were its staff.

“First and foremost our thoughts are with the staff. We have a very loyal group of members of staff who have been with us throughout the years,” he said.

However, he acknowledged also that the company's closure would have a wider effect on the economy of Birr.

“It's definitely going to have an impact,” Mr Milne agreed, saying that he believed Birr needed more support to capitalise on its many advantages, including its central location, its proximity to motorways near Roscrea and Tullamore and the availability of staff in the region.