TL;DR: Danish Crown to close Ringsted plant, cutting 1,200 jobs, as part of a strategic shift to enhance processed pork production and efficiency in Europe.
Strategic Reduction
RANDERS, DENMARK—Danish Crown has decided to reduce its production facilities in Denmark, starting with the closure of the Ringsted plant in mid-September 2024. This move comes after several challenging years in Danish pork production.
Impact on Employment
The shutdown will unfortunately lead to nearly 1,200 job losses. “Closing the Ringsted abattoir is a tough decision, particularly the parting of our skilled colleagues,” stated Jais Valeur, Danish Crown’s CEO. “This step is crucial for our evolution into a modern food company, focusing on increasing efficiency and expanding our processed product range in Europe.”
Consolidation Plans
Danish Crown will consolidate slaughtering operations to its sites in Horsens, Herning, Vejen, and Blans near Sønderborg. The company assured that Ringsted employees willing to relocate could find positions at these locations.
Investment and Job Creation
The closure allows for a DKK 250 million investment ($35.7 million) over three years in the remaining facilities, potentially creating 300 new jobs. This investment will support the production increase of processed pork items like bacon and pepperoni.
Strategic Shift
Since 2021, Danish Crown has transformed its focus from mainly supplying raw materials to enhancing the value of Danish pork through sustainable processed foods.
A significant part of this shift is a DKK 1 billion investment ($143 million) in a new advanced bacon production facility in Rochdale, UK, which produces over 200 million packets of bacon annually.
