Kepak launches staff consultation after operational review at Wales meat processing site
Company says plant will remain operational despite proposed workforce changes.
WALES – Kepak Group has begun a formal consultation process with employees at its meat processing facility in Merthyr, Wales, following an operational review aimed at adjusting the site’s operations to changing market conditions.
The plant, which processes both beef and lamb and employs about 850 people, is being assessed as the company responds to a decline in livestock availability and shifting customer demand, although Kepak said no final decisions have yet been taken regarding the outcome of the consultation.
According to the company, the proposed changes are intended to reshape operations at the facility to better reflect current and anticipated market requirements and to create a more flexible operating model capable of supporting the business over the longer term.
Although media reports have indicated that more than 80 jobs could be affected by the review, Kepak declined to confirm the figure and said the consultation process remains ongoing before any decisions are made.
The company added that it will continue to maintain a significant presence at the Merthyr site, which it described as an important part of its manufacturing network, and that normal livestock sourcing and processing activities are expected to continue throughout the consultation period.
Kepak also said it has invested substantially in the facility in recent years and confirmed that cattle and sheep will continue to be sourced from its established network of farming suppliers while production continues as usual.
Recent acquisitions
The privately owned food company supplies meat products and convenience foods to retail and foodservice customers across the UK and Ireland, with brands that include Rustlers, and currently operates 14 production facilities across both markets.
The consultation comes less than two years after Kepak expanded its portfolio through the acquisition of New World Foods Europe from Valeo Foods Group, adding meat snack brands including Kings, Wild West and Cruga to its business.
That transaction followed another acquisition completed in 2024 when Kepak purchased UK convenience food manufacturer Summit Foods, further extending its presence in the chilled and frozen food segment as the company continued to broaden its product offering.
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