Job losses looming at milk factory

Australasian food group Goodman Fielder is expected to close the Marlborough Milk factory in Blenheim by the end of the week, with the loss of 19 jobs.

Goodman Fielder bought the factory's remaining locally owned stake last month after taking over all of Meadow Fresh's assets from dairy group Fonterra last year, the Marlborough Express reported.

Goodman Fielder had said it was holding talks with workers about options for the Blenheim plant, but it was understood it would opt to close Marlborough Milk, meaning the region's packaged milk would be transported from Christchurch.

Dairy Workers Union organiser Brian Wooller said that last week the factory's 19 staff had been given a month's notice.

The plant itself would stop packaging milk on Friday.

- NZPA