ONE of Chard's biggest employers is set to close next year, meaning hundreds of people will lose their jobs.

Oscar Mayer, which produces ready meals for supermarkets across the UK from their Chard sites, informed staff this week that they were closing.

The food giant will transfer Chard's manufacturing business to it's other UK sites by September 2021.

Oscar Mayer currently employ 860 members of staff, but have said they will "consider flexible working" for those who are not dependent on being based in Chard.

“We will do everything we can to support individuals over the coming months, including assisting our colleagues in their search for meaningful alternative employment and prioritising Chard employees for opportunities that may arise elsewhere in the Oscar Mayer group," said Francois Legrain, chief executive of Oscar Mayer.

“We are working with local employers who, unsurprisingly, have already expressed an interest in hiring some of our workforce and we continue to liaise with Councillors and our local MP in an effort to minimise the disruption this decision will cause.”

The company announced in October that the Chard sites were at risk of closure.

READ MORE: Oscar Mayer announces plans which could close Chard sites

“We have held extensive discussions with employee representatives throughout the collective consultation process, during which we have explored their proposals to continue production at Chard," Mr Legrain added.

"Regrettably, however, we have concluded that none will help make the economics of the Chard site work in such a challenging market.

“We do not underestimate the impact of this announcement on our staff and the local community. There is never a good time to learn your job is ending and we recognise that it seems even worse in the run up to Christmas.

"Put simply, as soon as the final decision was made, we felt owed it to our hardworking staff to demonstrate full transparency at the earliest opportunity, in order to end the ongoing uncertainty and speculation.

"However, we will not cease production for some months yet.

“The closure is no reflection whatsoever on the capability of our people, who continue to work tirelessly and with tremendous commitment despite the difficult circumstances, and for this we remain immensely grateful.

"Rather, it is the unfortunate combination of a Covid-related change in consumer demand and premises with a physical infrastructure that does not readily adapt itself to change in product or demand."