8:00am Tuesday 16th March 2010
By James Beal
Bridgwater'S giant Somerfield supermarket depot is set to close - putting 400 jobs in jeopardy, the Mercury can exclusively reveal.
Although The Co-op, which owns the depot on the Huntworth Business Park, refused to confirm the decision, we can reveal workers were called into a meeting last week and told the site would be closing next year.
One Bridgwater employee, who did not want to be named, told the Mercury: “We were taken into the canteen and all told in one go.
“They said a new depot would be built, although they don't know where, and told us we would be shutting down in the second half of 2011.”
The shock revelation means the 400 workers on the site, including pickers, loaders and lorry drivers, are facing redundancy or possible relocation.
It also comes less than a year after 150 jobs were axed at the depot, following Co-op's takeover of Somerfield.
The employee added: “Some workers were surprised, but others knew it might happen.
“It's really unfortunate timing - I have a young family and a mortgage to pay.
“You wonder where the next pay packet is coming from, especially with the credit crunch.”
Steve Leahy, chairman of Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is a real loss for Bridgwater.
“But if a buyer can be found to take over the site and run a similar type of operation, hopefully as many jobs as possible can be retained.”
The Co-op said no decisions had been made about the location of its new regional depot or the future of its Bridgwater centre.
Wincanton, the company which runs the Huntworth site, declined to comment.
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