Workers at the Midland Meat Packers plant in Crick, one of the biggest abattoirs in Europe, have been told an unnamed supermarket chain is withdrawing its custom.

It is not yet known how many jobs could be lost in the restructuring.

Chairman John Baker said the past few years had been "very difficult" as the company had "worked hard to overcome crisis after crisis".

New positions

The company says business had already been damaged by the BSE and foot-and-mouth crises.

Mr Baker said he hoped some staff would be found new positions within the parent company, the FW Baker Group.

"For others we are offering help with CVs and are working closely with local job centres and recruitment companies within the area."

A further 800 people working in haulage and pet food production at the Crick site are unlikely to be affected.