DAIRY group Müller Wiseman is proposing to close its distribution centres in Keith and Whitburn, putting 156 jobs at risk.
The company, created when German giant Müller took over East Kilbride-based Wiseman Dairies in a £279.5 m deal last year, plans to expand its depots in Cambuslang and Aberdeen.
Trade union Usdaw said it had been “shocked” by the decision, and will be looking at alternatives to compulsory redundancy through the 45-day consultation period. There are 25 jobs in Keith, 116 in Whitburn, and 15 other admin and management roles throughout the company that could be affected. But Müller Wiseman has stressed that, if either depot closes, some employees will be offered the opportunity to transfer to the company’s other centres. Around 100 new jobs will be created in Cambuslang and Aberdeen.
Carl Ravenhall, managing director at Müller Wiseman Dairies said: “We must adapt to changes in the requirements being made of us by customers, with larger volumes of milk increasingly being delivered to regional distribution centres instead of individual stores. We operate in a very competitive environment and it is important that our structure reflects the current and future needs of the business.”
