Leicester has the two largest production plants owned by
David Samworth [MBE] who is the richest man in Leicestershire. [Samorths have been regular contributors to the Conservative Party - see their accounts and other sources available online].
Samworth Brothers "Group of companies Accounts" [Published 1st October 2019]: total sales for the group topped
1,064,000,000 GBP`s in the previous financial year.
The two biggest factories in the City are
The Bradgate Bakery and
The Charnwood Bakery - both have multiple lines in production 24-hours / 7 days a week / 52 weeks of the year.
The Factories cover a huge area to the North West of Leicester at Beaumont Leys. They also have subsidiary factories around the county.
Although they have 2000 employees countrywide, a large proportion of Samworths staff is agency - provided, minimum wage - zero hours contracts.
Turnover is high.
Although employees ware food standard wellington - boots, hairnets, overalls, food - handlers aprons and masks, there have been outbreaks of covid19 throughout the lock-down period as reported in the
Leicester Mercury [local newspaper].
Latest: [
27th June 2020]
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/...ff-samworth-brothers-sandwich-factory-4269744
Working in close proximity its difficult to see how practical social - distancing can be implemented and the lines arent designed for operatives to be placed 2 - meters apart.
There is no guarantee that agency staff are clear of covid19 unless tested.
The lines have been kept running as
"essential food suppliers" throughout.
Some agency staff may only work 1 day, but Covid19 can be passed on in a nanode.
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Around the corner is the huge
Walkers Crisp Production Plant which, if you are interested, is
the biggest crisp producing factory in the world [Fact].
Thousands work there on a three - shift system on the lines, plus maintanance, supervisors and management. In addition to the lines there are continual deliveries of raw product [
800 tonnes of potatoes per day] and a fleet of non-stop artic`s which arrive and depart 24 hrs / 7 days a week / 52 weeks of the year..
The plant produces
11,000,000 packets of crisps per day
Latest outbreak [1st July]
https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/...ers-crisps-confirms-coronavirus-cases-4283065
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Both of these factories are an integral part of Leicester and Leicestershire`s economy. Thousands of workers depend on their existence for their livelyhoods.
Due to the long hours and low pay of zero-hours agency workers, their is always a clamour for week-end working, where extra is paid for Saturdays and Sunday shifts.
I have known operatives work 6 X 12 hrs shifts, back to back.
Conclusion:
The issue in Leicester is not one of "immigrants" - [simply because it has a proportionately high percentage of those whose ancestors originated from East Africa and the Indian Sub-continent].
The main issue is that the major industry in the City is mass processed - food production.
Production has to be continuous to avoid unnecessary breaks in the supply - chain.
Thousands change shifts 24/7/52 and drivers and supplies are continually moving in and out.
Even in that contained infection - prevention risk averse environment, there is always the risk of contamination and infection.
So, unless you shut down the lines completely, the risk of covid19 infection is increased.
Their is a high demand: Samworth Brothers produce Premier Meats for Tesco as well as the "Value" lines. They provide sandwiches and "Meals to go" on Motorways, railway stations and on most high streets across the country. The brand "Dickson and Morris" is owned by Samworths - Walkers "Melton Mowbray" Pork Pies are produced by Samworth`s. They also own the "Ginsters" brand, so every time you see Ginsters Pasties, sausage rolls, steak slice, etc.....its probably made in Leicester [!] Ginsters do have a plant at Callington nr Launceston in Cornwall!
* As an aside - the smell of freshly baking pastry wofts across a large area of square miles and is quite pleasant.
* When the bakery starts cooking off the lamb with vegetables and other ingredients, West Leicester smells like a school kitchen from the days when we had proper school dinners.
* Add in the aroma of fried potatoes and artificially seasoned crisps from Walkers next door [which also used to belong to Samworths] and you can happily throw vyour guts up for hours