Brewer Greene King puts jobs at risk in Bury St Edmunds and Burton

Hundreds of jobs have been put at risk after a brewery announced plans to “restructure” its workforce to secure the company’s future.

Staff at Greene King in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, and its offices in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, are expected to be affected by changes to their “core support functions”.

The brewer said the move – which could result in the loss of more than 200 jobs – was “necessary” for the company to “thrive in these challenging times”.

“We are working with representatives to support our team members and limit job losses,” a spokesperson added.

News of the restructure comes after Greene King revealed plans for a new £40m brewery in Bury St Edmunds, due to open in 2027.

The large pub chain currently operates from its factory at Westgate Brewery, where it has been brewing cask ales since it was founded in 1799.

“We have made great progress on our business and cultural transformation journey,” the spokesperson added.

“Now is the right time to move on to the next phase.

“A restructuring of core support functions is necessary for the business to thrive for a sustainable future in these challenging times and be better placed to delight customers and deliver exceptional experiences.”