Pet food manufacturer Rondo Food is to close its plant in Arklow, Co Wicklow, with the loss of 135 jobs.
The company, which makes snacks for cats and dogs, had signalled it might close the plant last month after a series of negative financial results, the Irish Times reports.
In a statement last week, the company said that after ‘evaluating all options’ a decision had been made to relocate the facility to Krefeld, in northern Germany, by the end of January.
A spokesman confirmed that 111 permanent staff and 24 temporary would be made redundant.
“We deeply regret this development,” the company said. “For eight years our Irish staff have shown immense commitment in contributing to the development of the site.
“The unsatisfactory economic development and the market situation necessitate the bundling of operations at our largest location in Germany.”
CONSULTATION
Rondo Foods currently employs 650 staff and manufactures at two locations in Germany and one in Co Wicklow. It manufactures snacks for dogs and cats under private labels for several well-known European pet food companies.
Last month it announced it had entered into a consultation process with staff over the future of the Co Wicklow plant, according to press reports.
“After evaluating all options, Rondo Food has reached the conclusion that by the end of January 2020 the facility will be relocated to Krefeld/Germany,” it said, stressing that ‘all possibilities for the Arklow site were taken into consideration’.
Rondo entered the Republic of Ireland in 2011 when it acquired the business of Gaines Europe.
In 2018, Rondo’s turnover in Ireland slipped by 12% to €13.5 million while its pretax loss more than doubled to €1.6m. The figures show its parent company, Rondo Foods GMBH, advanced almost €4 million in loans during the year, bringing the total lending to €20.1m.
