Anger as jobs go in sandwich plant closure; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Rensburg Sheppards I was told nothing, says MP.

Byline: BY TONY McDONOUGH Deputy Business Editor

ONE of the country's biggest independent sandwich suppliers has folded with the loss of 240 jobs in Ellesmere Port.

It is believed Gibsons Foods ran into difficulties after losing contracts to supply sandwiches to bakery chain Sayers and supermarket group Budgens.

Insolvency practitioners Wilson Field have been appointed to deal with the closure of the factory.

News of the sudden collapse has angered Ellesmere Port MP Andrew Miller, who said: "I am deeply disappointed in how this has been handled. If directors know a business is in difficulty, they have a duty to seek help.

"There is little point in the Government announcing measures to help businesses if problems are not flagged up. No-one had the courtesy to mention anything to me.

"It is difficult to know what happened. Only last year they took on 60 extra people after winning new work, so I'd like to find out what has been going on."

A second manufacturing plant in Wiltshire was still open yesterday, but no one was available to comment.

Gibsons produced huge numbers of sandwiches each week for supermarkets, garage forecourts and other retailers.

It is understood director Kevin Pritchard last week told staff that production had finished, and that the Ellesmere Port premises would close.

The business was founded 30 years ago by brothers Colin and Edward Gibson.

The only information available at Companies House shows the resignation of Edward Gibson in December, and a recent change of name to the Ultimate Food Company.

The 37,000 sq ft manufacturing site in Devizes, Wiltshire, was opened in 2005. The future of that site and a further 90 jobs remains in doubt.

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