Historic Shepton Mallet cider mill to close

The C&C Group is to close two cider mills, including the historic Shepton Mallet mill in England, resulting in 180 job losses as it works to move its entire production to Clonmel in Tipperary, Ireland.

The Shepton Mallet cider mill is expect to close this summer, ending 240 years of production.

The group, responsible for brands including Bulmers, Gaymers and Blackthorn, announced this week that following a review of its manufacturing and operational footprint it will be closing production sites at Shepton Mallet in England and Borrisoleigh in Ireland and moving their production to its Clonmel sire in Tipperary, Ireland.

The Shepton Mallet cider mill in Somerset has been in operation since 1770 and produces cider brands including Blackthorn and Olde English, but is now expected to close in the late summer.

Under the proposal, production and packaging will be transferred on a phased basis from the facilities in Shepton Mallet and Borrisoleigh to Clonmel. Fruit will continue to be pulped at Shepton Mallet, but then shipped to Ireland.

“The trading environment in the UK and Ireland has been intensely competitive over recent years”, the C&C group said in a statement. “This has led to significant downward pricing pressure and the loss of material contracts for private label water. Current capacity utilisation across the three impacted sites is 34% constraining C&C’s ability to compete over the longer term. Under the planned configuration, Clonmel will move to a capacity utilisation level of 75%.”

Clonmel will become the core manufacturing site for both Bulmers and Magners cider, with the group expected to invest more than €10 million in expanding the site, which it said would create 80 additional roles.

However the way in which the group announced the closures and consequent job losses has been described by trade union Unite as “disgraceful, discourteous and Dickensian”, with many workers learning of the changes through the media.

“We know our members work for a Dickensian and inflexible employer, which puts company profit for shareholders and company directors first and foremost. The company has used the media in a cynical way to pave the way for this bad news – our members deserved much better”, said Unite regional coordinating officer Steve Preddy.

“There has been more than 240 years of cider production at Shepton Mallet at a workplace that is synonymous with historic cider production in the south west – and now this is coming to an end”, Preddy added. “This is a grievous blow to the workforce, their families, the town and the Somerset economy.”

C&C described the resulting job losses, which number 127 in the UK and 54 in Ireland, as “regrettable”.

“This has been a difficult decision for the Group and it is sad that the consolidation of production at the Clonmel site is the only viable option to maintain long term competitiveness” the group said. “C&C recognises the impact on employees and will work to provide support, training, and where possible, alternative employment.”

The group’s Wellpark Brewery in Glasgow is unaffected by the proposal.