Nearly 400 workers are facing redundancy as part of Morrisons’ plans to close its Rathbones bakery.

Unions have accused Morrisons of throwing “workers to the scrapheap” since its private equity takeover in 2021.

The UK’s fifth largest supermarket has announced it has launched a consultation into the potential closure of the Rathbones branded bakery in Wakefield, following a “thorough review”.

This decision will put the jobs of 378 workers at the site at risk.

Morrisons took the bakery business out of administration in 2005, but said it had struggled to make it profitable in recent years.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Following a period of growth and investment, the business has been loss-making for several years.

“Although we have tried several avenues to return the company to profitability, none have been successful.

“The current proposals unfortunately mean that colleagues at the site are at risk of redundancy and we will do all we can to help affected colleagues, including investigating whether there are other suitable positions elsewhere in the group.

The Bradford-based retailer, which is owned by US private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, said its 450 in-store bakeries on Market Street would not be affected by the possible closure.

It is understood Morrisons is exploring the possibility of continuing to manufacture some baked breakfast products, such as muffins and croissants, on site, which could maintain some jobs.

Morrisons said it was “considering all alternative options… on how we could change our current business model and save as many jobs as possible”.

Sarah Woolley, general secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union, said: “Since Morrisons was bought by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in 2021, we have seen the traditional cycle of post-takeover private equity behavior which throws workers into the hot seat. discarded without even a backward glance.

“They have stripped Morrisons of their assets, and our members are now bearing the brunt of their mismanagement with this short-sighted decision to close the site.

“This treatment of people is simply wrong and unfair to the hundreds of people who work at the site and whose lives have been disrupted by this decision. »