Fears have been raised for more than 100 jobs amid suggestions a major employer is about to pull out of Fife.
Speculation is mounting that commercial laundry and workwear firm Berendsen UK is pursuing plans to close its Kirkcaldy plant and stop operations at the town’s Randolph Industrial Estate within a matter of months.
The Courier understands work is likely to be transferred to a brand new state-of-the-art linen processing site in Glasgow following Berendsen’s £10 million-plus investment in the facility last year.
However, staff have been left in the dark about the Fife plant’s future after Berendsen was taken over by French rival Elis in the summer.
No-one at Elis was willing to confirm or deny the Kirkcaldy site’s closure when approached by The Courier, while a source at Berendsen’s London base confirmed the company’s headquarters was relocating to Paris as part of the takeover deal.
A former employee, who did not wish to be named, said the company was holding consultations with all Kirkcaldy-based staff over making more than 30 people redundant towards the end of 2017, although workers have heard the plant could shut down completely around March.
“This is a major blow to Fife because over 100 staff work there,” the ex-employee added.
“Managers there have tried to get answers for final closure but nothing’s been confirmed.
“But it’s a shame that so many jobs are being made redundant, all because a new factory has been built and work’s going to the new site. People have been working there for years and this is how they’ve been treated.”
The site was previously home to New Wave Laundries, which was formed in 1993 in Randolph Place, although that was dissolved with Berendsen owning more than three-quarters of company shares.
Berendsen had previously outlined a three-year, £450 million investment plan to help drive its recovery, and initially rebuffed French rival Elis’ advances – with the latter threatening a hostile takeover bid.
Berendsen chiefs said the initial offers “very significantly” undervalued the company, and management said it “did not see the basis for any further discussions with Elis”.
However, both parties subsequently confirmed in June that Elis’ offer of £2.2 billion to takeover Berendsen had been accepted.
Lesley Laird, MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, said: “I contacted the company seeking clarification on the current position with regard to the workforce.
“I have sought assurances on potential redundancies and on what assistance they have had from government agencies.
“I have offered my help and support to the employer. This will undoubtedly be a very worrying time for all concerned and their families.”
