KP Snacks to Shutter Tyrrells Vegetable Crisps Plant Amid Falling Demand

KP Snacks has announced plans to close a factory producing Tyrrells vegetable crisps in central England, pointing to a prolonged downturn in consumer demand and a significant contraction in export markets.

The company, part of the German snack giant Intersnack, said the proposed shutdown of the Uttoxeter site follows a "sustained decline in demand and the loss of key export volumes." The facility manufactures the brand's signature vegetable crisps, made from a blend of parsnips, beetroot, and carrots.

While KP Snacks did not disclose the number of jobs at risk, it stated it is consulting with employees and will "explore any ways to reduce or avoid redundancies where possible." The move affects only the vegetable-based snack line, with the company emphasizing that Tyrrells potato crisps are "not affected and continue to perform strongly."

The decision underscores shifting consumer trends and the challenges in the competitive snack sector. The closure proposal comes as KP Snacks faces separate industrial relations issues at its Billingham plant in Teesside, where staff have backed industrial action over disputes concerning workloads and pay.

Industry and Community Reaction:

"This is a devastating blow for Uttoxeter," said Michael Forester, a local councilor. "These are skilled jobs in a town that can't afford to lose them. It raises serious questions about the long-term strategy for British manufacturing under foreign ownership."

Sarah Chen, a retail analyst at BrandView Insights, offered a broader perspective: "The vegetable crisp segment has seen intense competition and market saturation. Consumers are increasingly opting for alternative healthy snacks, which has squeezed traditional brands. This closure appears to be a strategic pruning to focus resources on more profitable core lines like their potato crisps."

A more critical view came from David "Rusty" McCoy, a former KP Snacks distribution manager: "It's corporate greed, plain and simple. First, they buy the brand, then they strip it. They're killing a unique British product line for a quick balance sheet fix, with no regard for the community or the workers who built Tyrrells' reputation. And now they won't even comment? Cowardly."

Intersnack acquired the Herefordshire-based Tyrrells from Hershey in 2018. KP Snacks operates seven UK manufacturing sites and its portfolio also includes Skips and Butterkist.