Bernard Matthews Foods to close Derby factory by end of 2026

A British food giant is set to close its factory in Derby amid "significant financial losses".

Bernard Matthews Foods has confirmed it will be shutting its processing facility on Shaftesbury Street South by the end of 2026.

A spokesperson for the company said the decision had been made at the conclusion of consultations with "employee and union representatives".

The decision comes two years after the company announced plans to close a plant at its headquarters in Great Witchingham, Norfolk, where its founder built his empire.

In a statement on Thursday, the company said its financial situation was due to "external economic challenges".

"This decision follows continued significant financial losses, alongside a range of external economic challenges and the geopolitical environment, including Brexit, Covid, and conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which have all contributed to significantly impacting the site and its supply chain," a spokesperson said.

"The company will support impacted employees through potential redeployment opportunities across the wider business, and engagement with local organisations to explore alternative employment options."

The well-known food brand rose to prominence in the 1960s when Bernard Matthews entered the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest turkey farmer in Europe.

Matthews was known for his "bootiful" catchphrase and his success led to an expansion of turkey-related products, including turkey Twizzlers.

The entrepreneur died in 2010 on the day of the US Thanksgiving holiday, often referred to as Turkey Day.

According to the company's website, it still runs processing and production sites in Sunderland and in Holton, Suffolk.