Alice bakery to close

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p2158-Goodman-FielderBy ERWIN CHLANDA
 
Goodman Fielder Limited will be closing its bakery in Alice Springs on November 5 with an expected loss of 10 jobs.
 
The future of the bakery has been raised repeatedly in the current discussion about a bakery being established at the Alice Springs prison, but Goodman Fielder’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Martin Cole, says: “This decision is not related in any way to the proposal for the prison.”
 
He says production will be transferred to the national company’s other bakery in the NT, in Darwin, and a distribution centre will be established at the Alice Springs site.
 
Mr Cole says the move is part of an “ongoing project to improve manufacturing efficiency across its baking network” of 14 bakeries around Australia.
 
“Goodman Fielder is consulting directly with employees impacted by this decision,” says Mr Cole.
 
“Where possible, employees will be provided the opportunity for redeployment to fill vacancies at other Goodman Fielder sites, including the distribution centre at Alice Springs.
 
“Employees who are not able to be redeployed will receive their full redundancy provisions as well as an employee assistance program, outplacement program and careers workshop.
 
“It is expected that 10 full time roles will be made redundant at the Alice Springs bakery.”
 
IMAGE from Goodman Fielder’s website.
 

9 COMMENTS

  1. It’s always troubling to see people put out of work when closures / restructures occur.
    However, it will provide an opportunity for the several other small bakeries to pick up the market for fresh instead of frozen and thawed bread.
    Perhaps NT Correctional Service could use the existing Goodman Fielder bakery site to produce bread for the prison instead of building a bakery of its own.

  2. Yes Robinoz! And maybe the prisoners could take over the old Police building when they move to Greatorex and run that too! What a silly comment.

  3. This seems to be a trend. Coca Cola has done something similar. It has closed its storehouse as such. Product will now be sourced from interstate and distributed to local customers on a weekly order basis.
    There will be virtually no stock on hand. A difficulty will arise for non profit organisations looking for a sale and return of unsold stock deal.

  4. Prison? More likely $1 bread … Does anyone believe you can actually sell bread that cheap and everyone from the wheat grower to the baker to the delivery driver and then the super markets share holders can actually make a decent return? $2 milk is the next issue.
    Meanwhile Coles was flogging off frozen, semi baked bread from O/S as being baked fresh? Shame, shame, shame.
    [ED – We have invited Coles to respond.]

  5. If, as has been suggested the bread is going to come from the prison, one would hope that taxpayers get this for free or at a reduced price.
    I mean, we have already paid for the establishment of the facility, the goods, the “accommodation” for the labourers, the electricity etc. via our taxes.

  6. But how much bread do they actually bake in Elder St? Doesn’t a lot come to town frozen from interstate and then [go to] Woolworths and Brumbys plus smaller cake shop bakeries?

  7. I never consumed the products from the bakery so this won’t personally affect me. Very sad though to see another business and jobs disappear in town.
    Our town is vanishing before our eyes. Goods and services are disappearing weekly. It’s the story of regional towns right across Australia. Very sad.
    Perfect opportunity for CLC to buy the assets and teach their people a skill and provide real indigenous jobs.

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