Puddings maker to close UK factory in efficiency drive Published on 30 April 2008 A UK maker of trifles and chocolate puddings for supermarkets is to close a factory with the potential loss of up to 390 jobs. Convenience foods group Uniq has started a consultation process over the plan to shut its desserts operation at Paignton, Devon. The proposed move comes after a review of Uniq's loss-making desserts business, which also operates at Evercreech in Somerset and Minsterley, Shropshire. Uniq said it expected the reorganisation to take around 18 months to implement and cost about £20 million. The move is forecast to reduce its fixed cost base by £11 million a year. The company said the reorganisation of its Minsterley site over the past two years had created an efficient site better able to cope with the transfer of production from Paignton. Uniq has invested £36 million in upgrading the Minsterley factory, which makes desserts for Marks & Spencer and employs 600 people. Image: Trifle may be off the menu for Uniq's Paignton facility | 
