Jobs to go at toiletries firm

A MAJOR employer in Sandy is to axe almost 100 staff.

Now workers at Meller Beauty on the Sunderland Road industrial estate in the town fear more jobs could go as the company says it will have its products manufactured overseas.

The company produces toiletries for Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Superdrug and many other high street stores.

Formerly known as Dewhirst, the company was taken over by the Meller brothers David and Michael in 2002.

Two years ago it had an annual turnover of £34 million and the brothers spent over £1m on refurbishing and upgrading the Sandy factory.

The downturn started last year when the company axed 40 night shift workers as they began restructuring in an attempt to compete with imports from overseas.

Last week Meller Beauty announced it was undertaking a three-month consultation period with staff prior to putting in place a restructuring programme.

Around 100 staff have been given redundancy notices while the directors carry out the consultation process.

A spokesman for the company said the job losses were inevitable to cut costs and fight cheaper products from overseas.

"It is the manufacturing side of the business we will close," said the company spokesman.

"All those whose jobs are threatened have been told. We have to review our costs and are looking at new areas where we can have our products manufactured.

"It is likely our products will be bought in from either the Far East or from Eastern Bloc countries."

Chairman of the Sandy Chamber of Trade and Commerce and local baker David Gunns said: "This is dreadful news for Sandy.

"The company is one of the major employers in the town and the people who are losing their jobs must be devastated by the news.

"This is a major blow to employment in the town because finding work in Sandy will be very difficulty for those who are made redundant.