MONTHS of uncertainty for Okehampton?s largest workforce were ended last week with news that the Heinz factory in town had been saved from sale. Now the factory can look to a more assured future with Heinz promising to invest at the site. The plant on the North Road Industrial Estate, which employs around 360 staff, was put up for sale last year as the multinational firm sought to sell off its European frozen food sector to concentrate on core brands. But last week Heinz announced it was selling its UK chilled prepared foods business to US company Hain Celestial and was in talks to sell its Linda McCartney frozen vegetarian meals brand. But it retained four of its six remaining factories, including Okehampton, although putting them in a separate division. The company has spoken of its intention to invest in the Okehampton factory as it is keen to develop the Weight Watchers brand produced there. Nigel Dickie, a spokesman for Heinz, said the firm was ?delighted? to confirm it would be staying in Okehampton. He said Heinz was committed to ?investing in product quality and taste and in plant machinery.? The firm believed there was an opportunity to develop the Weight Watchers brand in the UK and Europe, looking at the business model which had been adopted in the US. Mr Dickie said at this stage Heinz could not forecast how much it would be investing or whether this would create fresh job opportunities. ?There are no immediate plans to take on new staff, but we are committed to growing the business,? he said. Mr Dickie said keeping the frozen food business in a separate division would enable ?greater focus for the business?. Mayor of West Devon Cllr Jayne Hill said: ?When I heard this news I breathed a huge sigh of relief. ?It would have been an enormous loss. We couldn?t have absorbed those job losses at all. ?This threat has been hanging over Okehampton for months. If a factory closes, you can see the immediate effect, but what you can?t see is the ripple effect on all the smaller business which support the factory. ?We must give real credit to the management and workforce at the factory who have obviously done a pretty great job.? West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox said: ?I am absolutely delighted for Okehampton and the community. Nothing could be better news than to learn the future of the factory is secure.? Mr Cox said he was hopeful an increase in the number of lines produced at the factory could be achieved through the new investment Heinz had proposed. He added: ?The factory is integral to the prosperity of Okehampton. It is a vital employer and it is very pleasing to hear Heinz has recognised its efficiency and should seek to retain it and put new investment in. I hope all the staff will feel justifiably proud.? Mayor of Okehampton Cllr Tony Leech described news of Heinz?s reversal of strategy as ?brilliant?. ?It must be a tremendous relief for the staff. Everyone that I had spoken to was optimistic outwardly, but they must have all been extremely nervous inwardly. It cannot have been easy having that hanging over their heads,? he said. Jeremy Filmer-Bennett, chief executive of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said it was excellent news for West Devon: ?In addition, it sends a great message out to companies wishing to invest in Devon. This is a place to invest in the future, and hopefully other world class businesses like Heinz will want to do the same. ?It says a lot for the workforce and management in Okehampton that they have continued to demonstrate their ability to produce a world class food product, even under the threat of closure.?
