KEY POINTS:
Meat exporter PPCS confirmed yesterday that two plants would be closed as part of a restructuring process.
The company had been in consultation with employees since announcing the planned closures this month.
Thirty-five people at PPCS' Te Kauwhata venison processing plant would be made redundant. Chief executive Keith Cooper said a resource centre would be set up to help employees look for another job.
"We will help find alternative employment for Te Kauwhata employees at our other processing facilities and will also liaise with other local employers to assist our people to find alternative work within the area," Cooper said.
Meanwhile, 25 employees at the company's Balclutha-based Windward lambskin manufacturing operations would be offered positions at the Finegand processing facility, also in Balclutha.
"A sale of the Windward brand to a New Zealand company is pending," Cooper said. "The potential buyer plans to continue supply of Windward brand products to existing customers."
Production at the Windward tannery was expected to stop by the end of the month.
Work at the finishing factory will continue until early next year.
Deer processing at Te Kauwhata will finish on December 14.
Earlier this month the farmer co-operative posted a $40.3 million net loss for the year ending August and said it would adjust its processing capacity to better match the supply of livestock.
