Co Antrim potato processor to cut 20 jobs

A Co Antrim potato processor is cutting nearly half its workforce in a bid to survive an influx of cheap chips from the continent…

A Co Antrim potato processor is cutting nearly half its workforce in a bid to survive an influx of cheap chips from the continent.

Ballymoney Foods, which was saved from closure last year, said about 20 jobs would be lost as it tried to cut costs and reduce operations to a single shift.

It blamed a big potato crop in Europe and processing over-capacity - which together had resulted in market conditions that made business difficult.

"Low import prices have resulted in low raw material prices that are untenable for our own growers," said the company.

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The plant was saved from closure 14 months ago when a group of Irish potato growers bought Ballymoney Foods from Glenfarm, which had run up considerable losses there.