Last month, Dutch potato processor Aviko informed its staff that the company intend to cut 75 positions, mostly (mid) management, as part of its “Fit for Growth” programme. According to Aviko CEO Piet Hein Merckens, the reductions are necessary to enable the company to grow. 55 positions will be cut in the Netherlands and 20 elsewhere in Europe. “There will be 25 lay-offs, but since these will be spread out over all of Europe, the number of lay-offs in Steenderen [head-office, PP] will be limited. The other positions will be eliminated as a result of retirements and by not renewing temporary contracts.”
The job cuts are intended to make more funds available for investment elsewhere. Merckens: “We want to strengthen our position in Europe and Asia. In order to be competitive, we have to improve our cost structure. We have had two good years of growth, but our ambition is to accelerate growth even more.” Aviko is part of Royal Cosun and employs about 1,700 people. The company is profitable. Merckens stresses the initiative originates from inside Aviko and is not dictated by Royal Cosun. Source: potatopro.com
