Food maker goes off boil

READY meal maker Northern Foods has halted its supply of £45 million worth of annual sales to Marks & Spencer and is to close one of its factories.

As a result of the withdrawal, Northern Foods, which also makes Goodfellas pizzas and Fox's biscuits, said it is to "mothball" its Fenland Foods site in Lincolnshire, with the loss of more than 700 jobs.

It said that the decision was taken in accordance with a strategy to "continue with business only where terms generate an adequate return for shareholders".

A 90-day consultation process with workers at Fenland was set to begin today.

Stefan Barden, the firm's chief executive said: "Our immediate task is to support our loyal employees."