Shock as 80 jobs are slashed at Quadra factory
Axed staff at a Plymouth milk company have spoken of their shock after being told their jobs are gone and the firm has no cash to give them.
The Langage Science Park-based Quadra Foods Ltd plant yesterday made 80 of their workers redundant after entering administration with debts of more than £4million.
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The Quadra Foods factory, Holland Road, Plympton
Mike Bateman, aged 30, who worked in the warehouse for over two years, said: “They told us there was no redundancy money and to fill in these forms from the Government.
“I feel let down by the way they did it. I think they could have gone about it better. They knew the administrators were in two or three weeks before Christmas.”
The father-of–one, from Brixton, said he now had concerns about putting food on the table, adding: “There are no wages at the end of this month.”
Staff have been told there is no money for redundancy packages and instead they have to claim from the Government. They face a wait of up to five weeks for any cash.
Mother-of-one, Vikki Wilde, from Ivybridge, had worked in the technical department for four years.
The 28-year-old told The Herald yesterday: “I’ve spent the day ringing people I know and have managed to get an interview so hopefully my child won’t go hungry.
“But there’s a lot of people here who may not be able to get another job.
“I feel the way they have gone about it has just been really awful. They have not given any of us any notice. I just have this letter and have been told to fill in the form for redundancy from the Government.”
Approximately 35 staff have been retained and it is thought they will be continuing to produce its Dairystix milk sachets as administrators hunt for a buyer.
Meanwhile, joint administrator Nigel Morrison, of accountants Grant Thornton, told The Herald he is due to meet representatives from “large UK and European food groups” tomorrow in a bid to salvage all or some of the operation.
And he also threw light on how a firm confidently predicting a successful 2012 just five months ago, ended up sinking into administration owing “substantial sums” including £4million to the huge Diary Crest company.
The Herald revealed yesterday how administrators at the 60,000sq ft Quadra processing plant – part of the Farmright Group, alongside sister firms Farmright Ltd, Dairystix Ltd and Stickpack Europe Ltd – blamed a lack of funding needed to buy technology and enter new markets for its demise.
Mr Morrison said the plant, which makes products including milk in bags and Dairystix used in coffee shops and on aircraft, had failed to break America.
“The company does owe substantial amounts to creditors and banks,” he said. “The negotiations to open a supply chain in the USA did not come to a successful conclusion – it just did not get done in time.
“It’s a very cash-hungry business, it needs cash to fund a capital spend programme.”
He said the plant was “an expensive place to run”, adding: “It needed to get a bigger return than it was making, the only way was to increase sales, but it did not get major contracts in place, just not enough.”
Mr Morrison said he was planning to continue trading the unique Diarystix product for up to four weeks while a buyer was sought.
“The whole business is not there any more, but Dairystix is a unique product,” he said. “There are four machines making that. It’s unique, not done anywhere else in the world.
“We have various customers we are talking to but we have got to get milk into the factory.
“But we would hope to preserve the jobs we have tried to keep going for the moment.”
He said “serious investors” would be looking at the plant, hopefully to produce more than just the Dairystix, and said: “We are starting to talk to people that might be interested, people that would want to take over the whole factory.”
Mr Morrison said the firm was insolvent and had no cash for redundancies and sympathised with ex-workers who now have to wait for Government cash.
“We can do nothing to speed that process up,” he said.
The Quadra jobs blow follows the loss of 51 jobs when Everest decided to close its Plymouth call centre last month. Last month Plymouth University said the number of city people in employment is actually falling, even though the unemployment figures aren’t going up by the same amount, suggesting redundant workers are either becoming self employed, dropping out of the labour market, or leaving the city.
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by chocofingers1
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 12:09PM
“Anyway people loads of jobs out and about. Tamar Foods needs 50 people (if your desperate and dont mind driving the extra miles) it £6.08 - £6.50 an hour immediate start.
Loads of warehouse jobs available with no experience needed. local £6.50 an hour.
Yeo Valley is not taking on at the minute
nor is Burts
Wrong time of year April will be your best bet! thats when things will pick up again.
Riverford farm needs production operators at £6.15 an hour for anyone totnes way.
KEEP YOUR CHINS UP GUYS AND KEEP LOOKING X”
by chocofingers1
Tuesday, February 28 2012, 12:00PM
“I know exactly who HE is. manager? Well sort of. Not one of the corrupt ones though. Thats why I cant understand why he laughs in the face of other peoples misfortune. but it comes to those who wait. As for him getting a job! pull the other one. YOUR IN THE SAME SITUATION AS THE REST OF US, silly boy I can sniff a liar out from miles away.I think you just cant handle "told you so" kind of situation which I find hilarious, fell back down to earth with a massive bump - welcome to the real world sweetheart and yes you have been **** on like the rest of us. Did you think you were special? bet you did lol.
Anyway cant fault the people we worked along side, you were all wonderful people and I will miss so many of you. couldn't have worked with better people. all the laughing made it worth staying there! Thats the only thing I will miss never enjoyed the place. Good luck to all of you xxx”
by brandblock
Monday, February 27 2012, 8:39PM
“I was one of the "lucky" 20 odd to stay on,knew my time would come aswell. Very sorry to everyone who losed jobs some i`d worked with for a few years and got on very well with..wasnt the best place to work but the characters and the banter made it worth while,i`m just sorry that some i probably wont see again as lifes will take different ways now........good luck to all...”
by ralphsterner
Monday, February 27 2012, 7:46PM
“ralphsterner, totally agree. Just wish i knew who he/she was. Really liked rubbing in that people had lost their jobs, then lost his/hers lol”
by ralphsterner
Monday, February 27 2012, 7:42PM
“Well milkeddry here is something to takeaway for you
1. Redundancy package at 1 week for a year service when most peope worked max 2-3 years must be a REEEEAAALL Lot lol.
2. If you really applied for a job 5 weeks ago then you are probably a manager working there and knew of the administration 3 weeks before rest of employees. Good thing to have on your CV manager... 'I worked at farmright in a senior position... yea? why did I leave? well because we as the managers screwed up'. Being a manager of a company who monumentally went **** up is a real achievement lol.
And you did put a snide comment about all the people here shoud stop complaining and get out of the dole queue or something.
Also knowing five weeks ago just shows how big A-holes you guys were protecting your own asses while the staff were made to work till 3pm THEn tell them they got no job. Real moral ethical people.
Wish you all the best though am sure you will get what you deserve :)”
by milkeddry81
Monday, February 27 2012, 7:00PM
“Just a quick reply for neas1983. If you didnt work there then why would you like to know who i am. Secondly i didnt call anyone a scrounger and thirdly,The most important of all i had an inerview five weeks ago and my start date was given to me last Wednesday so its worked out lovely for me. Especially when my nice wedge of redundancy comes through (-: And its people in glass houses shouldt throw stones Dopey.”
by neas1983
Monday, February 27 2012, 12:27PM
“I'd love to know who milkeddry is because he/she totally got owned. I believe he/she put in here a nasty comment about the 82 being 'benefit scroungers' should get on and find anothe rjob. Well he/she is in same situation now... dont throw stones is green houses come to mind.”
by neas1983
Monday, February 27 2012, 12:26PM
“Posted on another thread too :
My 'friend' worked there and the procedures and policies employed by farmright were atrocious to say the least. Internal Quality was severely lacking to say the least.
Employee benefits and rights were minimal and non-existent. Only two months ago did my 'friend' who had worked there for 2 years get an employee handbook.
New management was brought in who basically hired a group of his mates down and ex-colleagues to replace old managers. In some ways I could've agreed with this approach but unfortunately it seemed a bit corrupt considering instead of putting ads out for the very best he coincidentally got all his mates and their wives to replace the key staff. Which was another mistake made.,...i can't believe all his mates were exactly the best staff available.
Sorry for all you guys losing your jobs. Whats gonna happen now is the brand and patent behind dairystix will be sold and thats it. In some ways at least it is fair now that the managers who rode the ship into this situation are treated the same way as average joe... but obviously its not nice to lose your jobs.. so good luck all finding your jobs.”
by chocofingers1
Friday, February 24 2012, 10:20AM
“I really am surprised at you milkeddry81 after the way you have been treated in the last few months. Do you not get it? we are not against you for keeping your jobs at all. we are not against anyone. criteria should have been used and yes legally we are entitled to see your own scores. none of that happened. but anyway on a brighter note good luck for today. Think you guys got the ****tier end of the stick, your now week and half behind us!”
by chocofingers1
Friday, February 24 2012, 10:10AM
“lol you havent offended any of us. looks like you "SAD ACTS" will be finding a new job too from 3pm today. I already have a job sweetheart just because I write on a forum doesnt mean i havent got a job i started wednesday. Im glad the people that stayed, stayed! most of us wanted out for a long time so it was the kick that we needed. And i am so much happier. got a life back. I dont understand why your so bitter about the whole thing we are not blaming you and we all know most of us had to go its simply the procedure that was taken. its obvious your born in 1981 it dosent take a genius to work out who you are. I think personally you need to grow up a little bit, your now going to be in the same boat and yet your slating us. little bit silly wasn't it.lol”