The business explained: “Danish Crown is responding to what has been a challenging two years for Danish slaughter pig production, where the supply of fewer pigs for slaughter in Denmark has made it difficult to maintain efficiency levels at the group’s Danish abattoirs.
“Danish Crown is therefore reducing the number of production sites in Denmark and concentrating the group’s future investments with the aim of processing the owners’ pigs into products such as bacon and pepperoni rather than primarily being a supplier of raw materials to customers worldwide.”
The proposed decision to close the abattoir in Ringsted will result in the loss of almost 1,200 jobs, while approx. DKK 250 million will be made available for other investments over the next three years, and which is expected to create up to 300 new jobs in Horsens, Herning, Vejen and Blans near Sønderborg.
Jais Valeur, Group CEO at Danish Crown, said: “It is a heavy decision to close the abattoir in Ringsted, and especially to say goodbye to so many skilled and well-liked colleagues, but it is a necessary measure in our efforts to develop Danish Crown’s position as a modern food company.
“In making these changes, we are doing all we can to improve efficiency at the abattoirs and sell many more processed products to our key European customers.”
A significant chunk of the production that currently takes place in Ringsted will in future happen at Danish Crown’s other facilities in Denmark. The group will be investing in Horsens, Herning, Vejen and Blans near Sønderborg, so Danish Crown expects there to be enough work for the Ringsted employees who are ready to take a job at one of the company’s four other locations.
It has been proposed that the abattoir in Ringsted should be closed in mid-September 2024.