KEETCH COMMENTS ON BULMER ANNOUNCEMENT

5.00.00pm GMT Tue 16th Dec 2008

Paul Keetch, MP for Hereford, was advised earlier today of Bulmers intention to close its bottling plant in Hereford by March 2009.

Commenting on this news the MP said, "I am very sorry to have received this announcement just before Christmas and to learn that there are 54 potential redundancies."

Mr Keetch has spoken to Bulmers who have assured him they are doing their utmost to ensure that staff affected by the closure will either be offered voluntary redundancies with full support including outplacement and retraining to those who wish to be employed in other areas wherever possible.

The bottling line in Hereford has, however, been closed previously and only recently, as the market improved, was it reopened. The current economic downturn has resulted in the market slowing and glass bottles have now been in decline for a number of months.

Mr Keetch understands that bottling is less than 10% of the business with the vast majority of cider being kegged and canned by Bulmers remaining at the Hereford premises.

Scottish & Newcastle retain their 10,000 acres of orchards and the tens of millions of investments being made in the County for the future production of cider.

"I have been in contact with DEFRA concerning the protected name 'Herefordshire cider'. Whilst this name is protected, in fairness to Bulmers they don't describe the product on the bottle as 'Herefordshire cider'. However, it's unclear at present from DEFRA whether cider manufactured in Herefordshire but bottled in Yorkshire can still be called 'Herefordshire cider' - I will press for an answer," Mr Keetch added.