Devon’s Gregory Distribution Limited is to make 100 workers redundant after the coronavirus lockdown hit business.
The distribution, storage and logistics company, which celebrated its centenary year in 2019, has seen a “significant” reduction in work from the effects of lockdown on it and the economy as a whole. It has decided to slash 100 jobs from a total workforce of 2,700, spread across its operation.
Managing director Angela Butler said: “During this unprecedented period of lockdown the majority of the Gregory Distribution business has remained busy although there are some areas which have seen significant reductions in the volume of work.
“Thankfully the majority of the areas which have been adversely affected are expected to recover fully.
“However, some areas will remain significantly impacted throughout the lockdown and then beyond due to the impact of Covid-19 on the wider economy.
“Unfortunately, it has been necessary to review staff levels within the areas of the business that have declined as a result of difficulties faced by our customers but we have worked very hard to limit the impact on our people and we are now looking at the possibility of up to 100 redundancies spread across a number of locations.
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“This has been a very difficult decision and we will endeavour to keep job losses to a minimum, reassigning people where possible and giving them every assistance to find a new job.
“We value all of our people who have been exceptionally loyal and committed. We very much regret the need for any redundancies, but this unprecedented situation has made it necessary to maintain the health of the company and to protect its remaining 2,700 employees for the future.”
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Gregory Distribution started life in North Tawton, Devon, with a single Model T Ford Truck in 1919 but grew to have a fleet of more than 750 vehicles and 1,200 trailers, and a turnover of £160million in 2019.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic it had more than 400 customers ranging from South West companies to large, multi-national organisations, and listed many national brand names amongst its customers.
Its sites across England, Wales and Scotland, include those in Cullompton, North Tawton and Plymouth, where it has regional headquarters at the giant former Toshiba factory site, transformed into the £40million Plymouth Enterprise Park
Gregory Distribution operates 36 depots across the UK and but in 2019 was forced to announce up to 50 redundancies across its business as a result of Newton-Abbot based British Ceramic Tiles going into administration.
