The company has lost its contract with a major drinks manufacturer, Suntory, known for producing brands like Lucozade and Ribena. Wincanton has been running a distribution service from Suntory’s factory in Coleford, Forest of Dean, as well as a site in Brockworth for many years.
The contract between Wincanton and Suntory is scheduled to end on December 31, and an undisclosed firm will take over the contract, reports the news site. Consequently, Wincanton will no longer operate from its Brockworth site.
Wincanton employees currently working at both sites will be covered by Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) rights as they transition to the new provider.
This development follows another contract loss for Wincanton with dairy giant Muller, which was serviced from a depot in Wincanton, Somerset, the article adds.
While it is unclear whether any jobs are directly at risk due to the TUPE process, the situation has created uncertainty among employees, Gloucestershire Live writes.
Wincanton expressed its pride in its service to Suntory over the years and emphasized its commitment to supporting affected colleagues during the transition.
Suntory confirmed the end of its partnership with Wincanton and expressed gratitude for their collaborative years of service. They will work closely with Wincanton to ensure a smooth transition to a new delivery and warehouse supplier, respecting the TUPE process regarding employee transfers.
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