BREAKING: Jobs to go as UK Greetings plan to stop making cards in Dewsbury

All posts in the manufacturing department of the factory in Cannon Way are to be made redundant.

A statement from the firm today said that the jobs would be out-sourced to the Far East and North America to maintain “overall manufacturing efficiencies”.

The company refused to say how many jobs would be affected.

UK Greetings’ head office is based in Mill Street East.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Greetings Corporation, a company whose head office is based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

The statement read: “The company has taken the difficult decision to cease its UK based manufacturing operations over a phased period, likely to conclude in August 2015.

“Although this would result in those positions in the manufacturing function becoming redundant, the company will be converting the manufacturing floorspace to warehousing and distribution, and therefore some opportunities may be available for those whose position is affected by the cessation of manufacturing operations.

“The company has also made a significant investment and recently acquired a 205,000sq ft warehouse and distribution facility in Bretton Park, Dewsbury, which means all of the company’s warehouse and distribution operations will now be consolidated into two Dewsbury based sites.

“Colleagues affected by the cessation of manufacturing in Dewsbury will also be made aware of opportunities which arise in Bretton Park.”

According the company’s website, UK Greetings currently employ around 3500 people in the UK and the core business remains the design, manufacture and sale of greeting cards on a direct-to-retail basis.

The manufacturing facility has the capacity to produce more than six million cards per week.