Retailers warn of food trade jobs losses

Food supply-chain jobs will be lost due to supermarket chains acting to bypass the wholesale sector, Retail Excellence Ireland chief executive David Fitzsimons has warned.

His comments follow a €25m investment by retail group Morrisons in an abattoir in Lancashire. The chain has invested €250m in the food manufacturing side of its business.

Morrisons chief executive Dalton Philips said: “If market conditions continue, we will become the UK’s largest manufacturer of fresh food by 2015. This will build on our record of serving the freshest and best food our farmers have to offer with minimal waste in the supply chain.”