Council meets Britvic officials but decision to close will not change

But a meeting between local councillors and representatives from Britvic - which only took over the site in July this year - will not change the “unavoidable” decision to close the plant, officials said.

Closure was recommended by a business review carried out earlier this year. The logisitics will be moved to Britvic’s Castlereagh Road and representatives said this will offer redeployment opportunities for Quinns staff. Thirty workers were informed two weeks ago that they would lose their jobs at the plant.

Cookstown District Council members, including chairman Sean Clarke, councillors Ian McCrea, Trevor Wilson, Tony Quinn, John McNamee and Ciaran McElhone met with Britvic Ireland’s commercial director Finbarr O’Doherty, Head of Employmee Engagement Paul Diver and Commercial Manager for NI Brian Magennis.

A spokeswoman for the counil said: “The councillors stressed the serious concerns that have been relayed to them by employees and family members at Quinns, many of whom felt dismayed that the depot was to be closed, having been just acquired by Britvic Ireland.

“Councillors challenged management representatives regarding their commercial rationale for closing the Quinns depot given its strategic geographical location and sought assurances relating to redeployment and re-skilling opportunities for staff. The elected members requested confirmation that the maximum redundancy and severance packages are being offered to all staff at Quinns. “They also called on Britvic Northern Ireland to be mindful of their responsibilities with regards the future use of the Quinn depot site.”

But while Britvic Ireland representatives confirmed that consultation with staff and their employee representatives at Quinns of Cookstown is ongoing,they said the commercial realities of the marketplace have made this decision unavoidable.

They also confirmed that a business review recommended the closure of the Cookstown facility on the grounds of unsustainability and the transfer of all logistics to Britvic’s Castlereagh Road facility which would present redeployment opportunities for Quinns staff. The consultation process is expected to conclude next week.