Recipharm consider pulling the plug on local site

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With just days to go before Christmas, a local pharmaceutical company have announced they are considering pulling out of the region, putting approximately 140 jobs at risk.

Recipharm have announced they are set to start to “initiate a process to explore the discontinuance of operations at its solid dose manufacturing facility” at their base close to the Oldham/Ashton border near Bardsley.

In a statement seen by the Chronicle, they say the decision has been taken following a review of the operation which they claim hasn’t been profitable for “several years”.

It puts around 140 jobs at risk.

Thomas Eldered, CEO of Recipharm, said: “We have taken this decision as there is no likely prospect of the facility in Ashton being able to deliver an acceptable return in the medium term.

"It has clearly been a difficult choice as any closure will affect approximately 140 of our employees who have demonstrated commitment and hard work to provide high quality products and services.

"It is our intention to ensure fair and respectful treatment to all throughout this process and redeploy people where possible within the Group in the event of closure.

“Such a change will enable us to focus our attention on the most competitive and efficient manufacturing facilities in our Group.

"At a strategic level, we continue to pursue our mission to develop and manufacture pharmaceuticals for demanding customers for global use.

"As such, our financial objectives remain unchanged.”

Recipharm say they believe closing their locally-based facility would lead to profitability improvement in the business.

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