Watson's Dairy near Wickham to close with the loss of 144 jobs

A DAIRY near Wickham is to shut permanently – causing 144 jobs to be axed.
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Watson's Dairy in Mislingford in the Meon Valley has become unviable, parent firm Medina Dairy said, after the business lost a supermarket contract.

Staff members were told of the closure on Friday.

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The closure will cost 144 jobs. Stock picture: Allan HutchingsThe closure will cost 144 jobs. Stock picture: Allan Hutchings
The closure will cost 144 jobs. Stock picture: Allan Hutchings

The parent firm, which bought Watson’s Dairy in 2004, said its suppliers and customers would not be affected.

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The closure is the result of ‘extremely challenging market conditions’ in the milk sector, according to Medina Dairy chief executive Sheazad Hussain.

He said: ‘By simplifying and consolidating our processing activity we will be able to create a more sustainable and appropriately scaled business.’

Medina Dairy plans to investigate other uses for the site while transferring production to dairies in West Yorkshire, Gloucestershire, and London.

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