Bye bye jobs after buy by Bluebird

About 40 Auckland Hansells staff will lose their jobs after Graeme Hart's latest corporate takeover.

Bluebird - owned by Hart's Burns Philp - has bought Aztec Corn Chips and Krispa Potato Chips from the privately owned Hansells.

Hansells yesterday confirmed the deal had been done, although it is still subject to Commerce Commission approval.

The company would not disclose the deal's value, but it is likely to be petty cash compared with Hart's recent deals.

Last month, he agreed to pay $1.65 billion for a controlling stake in forestry giant Carter Holt Harvey.

Bluebird is owned by Goodman Fielder, which Burns Philp took over in 2003.

Hansells - owned by multi-millionaire Gary Lane - is an old New Zealand company that has been making baking ingredients since 1934.

It is also known for powdered juice concentrates such as Vitafresh and Thriftee.

Managing director Stuart Walker said two Auckland plants - in Glen Innes and East Tamaki - would probably operate until after Christmas.

Staff had been fully briefed and every effort was being made to help them find new jobs and deal with the transition.

Opportunities were likely at some other Hansells' plants and sister company Healtheries, or possibly Bluebird.