COUNCILLORS have met company bosses to try to save hundreds of jobs.
Fox’s Biscuits factory on Grange Road in Batley, which employs nearly 2,000 people, could close.
This month owners Northern Foods announced plans to merge it with a factory in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
The company plans to invest £40m in a new factory, either in Batley or Uttoxeter.
Kirklees deputy leader Clr Jim Dodds and the council Cabinet’s member for regeneration, Clr Ken Sims, met Fox’s Biscuits management to discuss the issue.
Clr Dodds said: “We had a very productive meeting and are happy that no decisions have been made.
“It is a level playing field in terms of the company’s considerations of where to site the new factory.
“Both the council and Fox’s have the wellbeing of the staff at the very front of any decision.
“We will assist Fox’s in any way we can to ensure that their future is in this area.
“The meeting followed discussions the council has been having for many months with Northern Foods and Fox’s to understand what their requirements.
“We are doing everything we can to help meet those needs.”
The Batley factory was founded in 1853 and employs 1,280 full-time and 600 part-time staff.
The Uttoxeter factory employs 950 people.
Northern Foods plans to decide between the two sites by next March and have its new factory up and running in 2011.
